Nepal Flood Horror: Pilgrim Recalls Hotel Being Swept Away Minutes After Breakfast

A Maharashtra pilgrim returning from the Kailash Mansarovar route has recalled a terrifying experience in Nepal, saying a hotel where the group had breakfast was swept away by floodwaters shortly afterwards. Prakash Shantaram Mane, a resident of Kalyan, was among 43 pilgrims from Maharashtra who were stranded in the Nepal-China border region after severe flooding and landslides disrupted movement in the area.

Mane said the group had eaten breakfast at the hotel before leaving. Soon after, they learned that the building had been washed away by the floodwaters, reportedly taking some hotel staff with it. The incident left the pilgrims shaken, particularly because they had been inside the building only a short time earlier.

The Maharashtra pilgrims were travelling as part of a Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage organised by Rudra Tour and Travels. After reaching the Timure area near the Nepal-China border, they were caught amid the disruption caused by the floods. The group was later moved towards Kathmandu as authorities worked to restore access and assist stranded travellers. The 43 pilgrims reached Kathmandu on August 29 along with nine Nepali tour staff.

They subsequently boarded a Nepal Airlines flight to Mumbai and returned safely to Maharashtra. The flooding has caused widespread destruction in parts of the Himalayan border region, with roads, bridges and other infrastructure damaged by surging water, mud and debris. Rescue operations have continued as authorities search for people reported missing in the disaster.

The journey home brought relief after days of uncertainty. But Manes account of the hotel being swept away shortly after breakfast has underscored the speed with which conditions can become dangerous during flash floods in the mountainous region. The incident has also renewed attention on the risks faced by tourists and pilgrims travelling through remote Himalayan areas, where landslides, sudden flooding and changing weather conditions can disrupt routes with little warning.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from DT Next.