Nepal flash floods: 29 members of Nepal-origin family in Bhopal missing; said in last call—'We are heading to the hills to save our lives'
Bhopal: Twenty-nine members of a Nepal-origin family residing in Kolar area of Bhopal have gone missing while on a pilgrimage to Gosaikunda in Nepal's Rasuwa district. The region has been hit by severe flash floods, raising serious concerns.
29 members from the family, including two married couples (brothers and their wives), traveled together for the religious pilgrimage.
According to their family members in Bhopal, the last contact with the group was made around 9:30 AM on August 26. During the phone conversation, the travelers reported receiving a flash flood warning and stated they had taken shelter on the roof of a house. As the situation worsened, they informed their relatives that they were "heading towards the mountains to save their lives." Since then, their phones have been switched off.
Devki Adhikari, a resident of Kolar, stated that the group included her several close relatives—including a brother, sister-in-law, and other family members—who had traveled to Gosaikunda together. Relatives are deeply anxious due to the lack of contact since that final call.
The family is now hopeful that Nepali rescue agencies and Indian officials will locate the group and provide concrete information about their whereabouts. Authorities will also need to determine whether the 29 travelers have reached safe locations, hospitals, or relief camps.
Gosaikunda is a popular religious and tourist destination, but its mountainous terrain can become treacherous during heavy rains and flash floods. This situation has once again underscored the importance of effective emergency communication and coordination for Indian tourists and pilgrims traveling to disaster-prone areas.
For the family in Bhopal, the phone call on August 26 remains their last contact with their loved ones. Until officials provide concrete information, the search will continue—accompanied by both anxiety and the hope that the missing family members are safe.
Extensive search-and-rescue operations are underway in the disaster zones, though difficult terrain and continuous water flow have severely hampered tracking and rescue efforts. Families in Madhya Pradesh continue to await official updates anxiously.