'Flood Was Just 100 Metres From Me, God Helped Me’: Indian Pilgrims Recall Nepal Horror

For the Indian pilgrims caught in Nepal’s devastating flash floods, survival came down to moments of luck, quick decisions and, as some survivors described it, divine intervention.

One of the 21 Indian pilgrims from Tamil Nadu rescued after being caught in the floods recalled how the waters came within just 100 metres of him. The pilgrim, who is from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, described the situation as “very serious” and said, “God helped me” survive the crisis.

The 21 pilgrims, who had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, were rescued by the Nepal Army and brought back to Kathmandu before returning to India.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the group after their arrival and said the pilgrims expressed gratitude to the Nepal

Army for rescuing them from what he described as a “very difficult place.”

நேபாளத்தில் ஏற்பட்ட வெள்ளப்பெருக்கிலிருந்து மீட்கப்பட்ட, தமிழ்நாட்டைச் சேர்ந்த 21 யாத்ரீகர்கள் அடங்கிய குழுவை வரவேற்றேன். அவர்களின் அனுபவங்களை நேரில் கேட்டறிந்தபோது நெகிழ்ச்சியடைந்தேன். இந்த மீட்பு நடவடிக்கையை மேற்கொண்ட நேபாள ராணுவம் (@NepaliArmyHQ) மற்றும் அந்நாட்டு அரசுக்கு… pic.twitter.com/X5n0Of8J2O

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 28, 2026

‘The Flood Was Just 100 Metres From Me’

Recalling his experience, the Visakhapatnam pilgrim said the floodwaters came dangerously close to him.

“Very serious situation there. Around 250 Indians are missing. The flood was just 100 metres from me. God helped me. So, I am happy.”

He also thanked Andhra Pradesh leaders for reaching out to him during the crisis, saying Minister Nara Lokesh and the MLA from his constituency had spoken to him.

‘Everything In Front Of Us Was Destroyed’

For Karnataka pilgrim Mallinath Kolkundi, the warning came in the form of a deafening roar.

Travelling towards the Nepal-Tibet border with his son-in-law, Kolkundi said their vehicle was around 200 metres from the flood zone when the driver suddenly turned towards higher ground.

“We heard a deafening roar, and within seconds… everything in front of us was destroyed.”

He said two buses ahead of them were swept away in the floodwaters. The hotel where they had stayed and the immigration office they were supposed to visit were also destroyed.

“By God’s grace, we survived,” he said.

A Tea Break That May Have Saved 28 Pilgrims

Another group from Visakhapatnam had what appeared to be an unexpected stroke of luck.

Garudappal Naidu, whose family was among a group of 28 pilgrims travelling for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, said a series of delays had slowed their journey. The group had spent additional time in Kathmandu because of visa delays and later stopped on the way to use the restroom and have tea.

When their vehicle was around 50 to 100 metres from the China border bridge, a landslide suddenly came down with great force. A tempo driver travelling in the opposite direction alerted them, after which their bus was moved towards higher ground.

The accounts of the rescued pilgrims highlight how quickly the situation turned dangerous, with many escaping only after making split-second decisions to reach safer ground.