As many as 102 pilgrims from Nagpur, who were stranded in Kathmandu following severe flash floods in Nepal, safely returned to Maharashtra early on August 30, officials said.
The pilgrims had travelled to Nepal on August 19 to offer prayers at the Pashupatinath Temple and visit other religious sites. Their return plans were disrupted after devastating flash floods hit areas near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, causing extensive damage and disrupting transportation.
The group remained stranded in Kathmandu until August 27 as authorities assessed the situation and efforts were made to facilitate their return.
Four additional pilgrims from different parts of Vidarbha were also travelling with the group. While four members returned by air on Saturday, the remaining 102 reached Nagpur Railway Station at around 4:30 am on Sunday.
The pilgrims recalled the difficult conditions they faced during their stay in Nepal, with heavy rainfall and flooding creating uncertainty over their return.
Yogesh Gavande, one of the pilgrims, said the group was staying nearly 50 kilometres from the worst-affected area but became stranded in Kathmandu.
“We were staying about 50 kilometres away from where the incident occurred. We got stuck in Kathmandu, but our Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, helped us, rescued us from Nepal, and brought us back to India,” Gavande said.
He also recalled the dangerous journey arranged to bring the pilgrims back to safety. According to him, buses were deployed for the evacuation, but one of the five buses was swept away by floodwaters.
“One bus was swept away in the water. We witnessed everything there. The weather was extremely bad and it was raining heavily,” he said.
An elderly pilgrim said the situation had become so dangerous that the group feared they might not be able to return home.
“Our situation was such that returning seemed impossible. It was so dangerous that we had given up hope of returning home to Nagpur and to our children,” she said.
The pilgrim said the group witnessed floodwaters carrying people away before eventually reaching a safer location. The pilgrims later received assistance from the Maharashtra government to facilitate their return to India.
Meanwhile, Nepal authorities issued another flood-related warning on August 30 following a sudden increase in the sound and flow of the Bhote Koshi River.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) advised residents in downstream areas of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading to remain alert. These districts were among those affected by the flash floods on August 26.
People living along the Rasuwa riverbank, particularly in areas close to the Nepal-China border, have been asked to closely monitor the river and remain vigilant.
Emergency response teams and local administrative authorities in Nuwakot and Dhading have also been placed on alert as a precautionary measure.
The NDRRMA said the District Administration Office in Rasuwa had reported a noticeable increase in the sound of water flowing through the Bhote Koshi River. Authorities urged people living near the river to exercise extreme caution and said further updates would be issued depending on the situation.