Karnataka pilgrim recounts harrowing escape from Nepal flash floods

Mallinath, a resident of Kalaburagi district, was part of a 25-member pilgrimage group from Hyderabad heading toward Manasa Sarovar in the Tibet Autonomous Region near Mount Kailash when the flash floods struck. The sudden natural disaster left the group scrambling to survive as water and debris swept through their location with devastating force.

Traveling alongside his 30-year-old son-in-law Sangamesh, Mallinath described the catastrophic moments as the flood hit. The speed and intensity of the deluge left little time for the pilgrims to react or seek safety, with the destruction occurring in mere seconds.

The incident highlights the risks faced by pilgrims undertaking arduous journeys to remote high-altitude destinations in the Himalayan region. Flash floods in Nepal and the Tibet plateau are a recurring hazard during certain seasons, often triggered by heavy rainfall, glacial melt, or dam failures upstream.

Details regarding casualties, injuries, and the total number of survivors from the group remain unclear. Rescue and relief operations in the region are typically hampered by difficult terrain and limited access to remote areas where such tragedies occur.