Five-Minute Delay Keeps Pilgrims from Tirupati Away From Nepal Disaster
Mansarovar pilgrims from Tirupati said they witnessed the devastation from close quarters
TIRUPATI: Pilgrims to Manasarovar from Tirupati had a narrow escape in Nepal when their bus moved to a higher location just five minutes before floodwaters struck.
The group had been on the Nepal-Manasarovar route when the vehicle travelling ahead carrying their luggage and cooking equipment stopped due to a landslide. This advance party alerted the group of pilgrims travelling behind about the development.
Following this, the local guide Suman suggested that the driver move the bus to a higher ground.
“As per the suggestion, we moved away from the spot. Within five minutes, the entire area where our bus had been parked got flooded. Any delay and we could have lost our lives," said P. Venkataramana, managing director of Tirupati-based Signin Travels.
Kalpana, a member of the group from Tirupati, said earlier the group had stopped the bus for tea for about half an hour. This delay too kept them away from reaching the flood-hit stretch.
Mansarovar pilgrims from Tirupati said they witnessed the devastation from close quarters. They could see floodwaters just about 50 metres from them. An immigration building in the area got damaged in the floods, according to Venkataramana.
The group of 26 pilgrims signed up with Signin Travels and travelled to Nepal. District officials sought information about the group’s whereabouts after reports of the flash floods. Collector Dr. S. Venkateswar, superintendent of police L. Subba Rayudu, and Special Branch officials contacted Signin Travels and received confirmation that all the pilgrims are safe and staying at a hotel.
The group comprises people from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. They are awaiting further information on whether they could continue their journey to Mansoravar or return to Tirupati.
The whereabouts of V.S. Balasubrahmanyam, a resident of Kuppam who had separately travelled to Nepal, are still not known. His family has been unable to contact him since Tuesday. Family members are awaiting information about his whereabouts.
