Bhadrak: Seven tourists from Odisha’s Bhadrak district are among 51 people stranded in Nepal following flash floods and landslides that disrupted their journey. The group has now been shifted to Bhairahawa (Siddharthanagar) for safety.
The group, which includes tourists from Odisha and Kerala, had travelled to Nepal through Kailash Travelers in Kolkata, owned by Kailash Biswal of Nalgunda panchayat under Chandbali block in Bhadrak district.
The tourists had taken shelter near the Manakamana Temple after their onward journey was disrupted by flash floods and landslides. They were subsequently evacuated by Nepal Police and local officials as the Trishuli River swelled and became increasingly turbulent.
The 51-member group comprises 43 people from Kerala, seven from Chandbali in Bhadrak, tour operator Kailash Biswal, five cooks, Tuna Dash of Chandbali and Saurabh Banerjee of Kolkata.
With the Trishuli River overflowing amid landslides, officials moved the stranded group from the temple area and brought them to Bhairahawa (Siddharthanagar) by ropeway. The group is currently staying at a small lodge in Bhairahawa.
The floodwaters of the Trishuli River have also affected the Lhende Khola and Bhotekoshi river systems bordering Rasuwa district.
According to members of the group, they had planned to travel around 200 km from Kathmandu towards the mountainous region by boat. However, a sudden rise in the river forced them to abandon the journey and turn back after travelling around 70 km.
The group said they encountered floodwaters and mudslides during the journey before finally taking shelter at the Manakamana Temple.
“We were followed by floodwaters and mudslides. We finally took shelter at the Manakamana Temple,” members of the group said.
The tourists were later shifted to Bhairahawa as a precautionary measure following the worsening conditions around the Trishuli River.
