Nepal floods: 404 from Maharashtra stranded; 60 tourists still untraceable

MUMBAI: As many as 404 people from Maharashtra have been confirmed safe but stranded in different parts of Nepal following the devastating flash floods, while 60 tourists from the state remain untraceable, a state government official said on Friday.

The State Disaster Management Department said 105 Maharashtra residents who were in Nepal when the floods struck have already returned to India.

“All of them are from Nagpur and they will return home as per their schedule,” the official said.

Of the 404 people confirmed to be stranded, authorities have established contact with 299, who are safe but remain stuck in different parts of Nepal.

However, 60 people travelling with a Nepal tour organised by Mumbai-based Richa Tours Pvt Ltd have not yet been contacted, the official said.

“So far, 404 people from Maharashtra have been confirmed to be stuck in Nepal. Of these, 105 are back in the country, while our control room has established contact with the remaining 299 people, who are safe but stranded in various parts of Nepal,” he said.

The latest information comes after a massive flash flood swept through the Bhote Koshi river in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, which borders Tibet, on Wednesday. The disaster killed hundreds of people and caused widespread damage.

37 Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims leave Tibet

Meanwhile, 37 pilgrims from Maharashtra who were stranded in Tibet after completing the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra left for Kathmandu on Friday morning following intervention by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the group includes pilgrims from Thane, Pune, Raigad, Alibag and Dombivli.

The pilgrims left Saga in Tibet at around 6am and travelled towards Kathmandu through the Nyalam check-post.

Their return flight from Kathmandu has been scheduled for 2pm on August 29, the CMO said.

61-member Mumbai group remains untraceable

Shiv Sena leader Dr Deepak Sawant told PTI that there had been no contact with a group of 61 people from Mumbai led by mountaineer Dr Milind Chitley and his wife, Dr Janhavi.

“No contact has been established with them yet,” Sawant said.

The group includes Dr Meenakshi Ramani, a dentist who is a friend of Sawant’s wife, along with two of her relatives.

According to their itinerary, the group was expected to cross a check-post along the Nepal-China border when the flash floods struck.

Sawant said there had been no communication from any member of the group since the disaster.

(PTI)