Odisha Engineer Survives Nepal Floods, Wife And Daughter Missing

Bhubaneswar: An Odisha mechanical engineer working at the Upper Trishuli hydropower project in Nepal narrowly escaped the devastating floods that swept through the project area, but his wife and two-year-old daughter were washed away from their home and remain missing.

Jay Krishna, a native of Bargarh district, had reported for duty at around 7.30 am on Wednesday. Soon after reaching the workshop, he was asked by his office to inspect the tunnel site. He left the workshop and rushed towards the site, unaware that the decision would save his life.

According to reports, a portion of the tunnel was situated on elevated ground. Jay Krishna reached the area just minutes before the floodwaters surged through the project site, allowing him to escape the deluge.

However, his family was not as fortunate. His wife, Sai Bindu, and their two-year-old daughter were at their home when the flood struck. Both were swept away and have not yet been traced.

Jay Krishna and two of his colleagues were forced to spend nearly 36 hours in the open as the situation around the hydropower project remained perilous. They reportedly had neither food nor water during the ordeal.

The company eventually dispatched a helicopter the following afternoon and rescued the three employees. Jay Krishna was taken to Kathmandu, where he is currently staying at a hotel.

He is now awaiting information from the Indian embassy which reopened on Monday, hoping to seek assistance in locating his wife and daughter.

For Jay Krishna, survival has brought little relief. While he escaped the raging floodwaters by a matter of minutes, the whereabouts of his wife and young daughter remain unknown. He continues to hold on to hope as search efforts continue.

Jay Krishna had arrived in Nepal in 2019 after working at several hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country. He married Sai Bindu, also a native of Bargarh, in 2023.