They had set out on a pilgrimage to Nepal. But their journey turned into a fight for survival when an avalanche-triggered flash flood struck their convoy, sweeping away two of the three buses. For 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, returning home on Friday was nothing short of a second birth.
“There was a loud noise, like a bomb blast, when the flash floods struck our convoy of three buses. The vehicle in front of us and the one behind us locked our vehicle, and we climbed on top to save ourselves. Then we climbed the hill where there was an Armed Reserve Police camp.
The police helped us and gave us shelter,” she told NDTV.
The challenge over establishing an accurate list was also reflected in a PIL filed in the Madras High Court on Friday, seeking clarity and action over the Tamil Nadu pilgrims caught up in the Nepal disaster. For Sriram, the ordeal had been a nightmare as his mother-in-law was among those who could not initially be contacted. Her return brought an overwhelming sense of relief to the family. “Four ministers have been assigned to coordinate from Delhi. Praveen, whose father is missing, had come to the airport hoping for good news. Instead, he left disappointed that there was still no government-verified list from either the Centre or the state of those missing and rescued.
Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Raj Mohan said around 400 people from Tamil Nadu may have travelled to Nepal around this time. at least 80 are still believed to be missing, with efforts under way to bring those rescued to Kathmandu and then back to India While 140 people from the state have been rescued and are safe in Nepal.
We would do everything required to trace the missing people,” he said.
