New Delhi, August 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indians rescued from flood-ravaged Nepal have recounted harrowing experiences of rising waters, missing family members, destroyed homes and desperate attempts to reach higher ground, describing themselves as fortunate to have survived the disaster.
Migrant workers from Bettiah in Bihar told IANS that the flash floods were “unimaginable”, with one survivor recalling how rapidly the water engulfed the area.
“There were five to seven of us, three of our people went missing… There was a lot of water in the area, rising up to 20 feet. We took our children and ran up the hill. After an hour, when the water level receded, we went to look for them, but we could not find the three people,” he said.
The survivor said locals later warned them to leave as there was no guarantee that another wave of floodwater would not strike.
Another young survivor said he heard a loud noise at around 9.30 a.m. and initially stepped outside to find the area covered in dust. He soon realised that a massive flow of water had swept through the area.
He said people were immediately alerted and began moving towards higher ground, but three people were left behind. When they returned about an hour later, neither the missing people nor their house could be found.
A fellow migrant worker said they started running uphill barefoot after hearing about the rapidly rising water. When they returned to search for their companions, there was no trace of them.
In Chennai, a woman who had travelled to Nepal as part of a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar also returned safely after being caught in the disaster.
Her son-in-law said she had reached Kathmandu on August 24 and was scheduled to visit Mansarovar on August 26. She was travelling with 21 others in a bus approaching the immigration office near the China-Nepal border when the disaster struck.
According to him, those inside the bus struggled to breathe and speak before the driver fled. The passengers then got out, while his mother-in-law climbed a tree and remained there for three to four hours before being rescued by Nepal Army personnel.
Another Chennai resident said the stranded group could only pray for their safety. He said the Indian government subsequently arranged their movement to Kathmandu, where the ambassador met them, offered reassurance and helped arrange food and accommodation. They were allowed to proceed to the airport the following day.
Meanwhile, the first batch of 106 stranded tourists from Maharashtra returned to India, with passengers expressing gratitude to Indian and Nepalese authorities for facilitating their evacuation.
A woman from Nagpur said the group had remained worried about whether they would survive. She said her two children helped the family cope with the situation.
The group initially wanted all 106 people to travel together and had resisted leaving separately. However, as conditions deteriorated, they agreed to board a flight. She said Nepalese authorities also assisted them despite some passengers not having the required documents.
Another passenger said conditions remained normal for around seven or eight days before rapidly deteriorating. The group had initially travelled in large vehicles, but police later stopped their movement after roads were blocked and bridges were washed away by the disaster.
Expressing relief at being reunited with his family, he thanked Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for making arrangements for their return.
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