The recent devastating flash floods in Nepal have resulted in numerous casualties and many individuals unaccounted for, with heart-wrenching accounts emerging from both local and international communities caught in the calamity.
Among the missing is a family of Indian origin residing in the UK. Santosh Sahu (46), his wife Surabhi (44), and their children Spandan (18) and Syna (13) were reported missing while on a pilgrimage and trekking journey near the Nepal-Tibet border. They lost contact while traveling with a tour group to visit sacred Himalayan sites when a sudden flood of water, mud, and debris engulfed the area, devastating roads and bridges. Surabhi, who previously worked as a banker and was crowned Mrs India UK in 2018, and Santosh, the CEO of a pharmaceutical technology company in the UK named Charac, last communicated while crossing the border. Their son, Spandan, had just completed his A-levels and was preparing to enroll in Law at Durham University.
In another development, seven tourists from Bhadrak district in Odisha are among 51 individuals stranded in Nepal due to the flash floods and landslides that interrupted their travel plans. This group, which also includes 43 tourists from Kerala, was arranged through Kailash Travelers of Kolkata, owned by Kailash Biswal from Chandbali. They initially sought refuge at the Manakamana Temple before being evacuated by local officials and Nepal Police as the Trishuli River overflowed. Subsequently, the stranded tourists were transported to Bhairahawa (Siddharthanagar) via ropeway and are currently lodged in a local facility.
The floods have wreaked havoc across Nepal, with the death toll reaching 616 as reported Saturday morning. According to The Kathmandu Post, authorities have recovered 233 bodies in Chitwan, 158 in Nawalparasi East, 48 in Gorkha, 47 in Nawalparasi West, 45 in Dhading, 41 in Nuwakot, 31 in Tanahun, and 13 in Rasuwa. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, hampered by damaged infrastructure, landslides, and communication failures. Families of the missing, including the Sahus, are anxiously waiting for news as officials work tirelessly to locate survivors and restore access to the affected regions.
