NAGPUR: As many as 102 pilgrims from Nagpur who were stranded in Kathmandu following devastating flash floods in Nepal returned home safely on August 30, officials said.
The pilgrims had travelled to Nepal on August 19 to visit the Pashupatinath Temple and other pilgrimage sites. They remained in Kathmandu until August 27 after flash floods struck areas near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26.
Four other pilgrims from Vidarbha were part of the group. While four returned by flight on Saturday, the remaining 102 reached Nagpur Railway Station by train at around 4.30 am on Sunday.
The pilgrims described a difficult journey amid heavy rain and flooding. One traveller, Yogesh Gavande, said one of five buses arranged for their return was swept away by floodwaters.
Another elderly pilgrim said the group had lost hope of returning home after witnessing the scale of the flooding. The pilgrims later received assistance from the Maharashtra government to return to India.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority issued a fresh alert on Sunday after a sudden increase in the sound and flow of the Bhote Koshi River.
The warning covers downstream areas of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading, which were among the districts affected by the August 26 flash floods. Residents along the Rasuwa riverbank, including areas near the Nepal-China border, were advised to monitor water levels and remain vigilant.
Emergency services and local administrative authorities in Nuwakot and Dhading were also placed on standby.
