The devastating flash floods in Nepal have left families desperately searching for loved ones, and one Indian-origin man now faces an agonising wait after his wife went missing during a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar.
Sridevi Vejella was among a group of 80 pilgrims from the Isha Foundation who were coming back from the pilgrimage when a massive flash flood struck the Gyirong immigration centre near the Nepal-Tibet border. Mud, rocks and water surrounded the building and several people disappeared.
Deepak Dandu, a US citizen, traveled from New York to Hyderabad after hearing about the disaster. Speaking about the situation, he recalled his last conversation with Sridevi.
They had remained in contact until Tuesday, when she said she was on her way back. And then communication ceased after this conversation.
In addition, Dandu said the group had reached the immigration centre just before the flash flood struck. According to information provided by the Isha Foundation, the group leader had contacted the organisation at 9:05 am to say that they had reached the immigration centre. Around nine minutes later, the disaster struck.
The family’s uncertainty has been particularly painful. The 13-year-old son who had accompanied his mother to India but remained behind with relatives is now coping with the distressing news while the family waits for information about Sridevi.
Dandu described the pilgrimage as something his wife had wanted to undertake for years. For Sridevi, travelling to Kailash Mansarovar was not just a holiday or religious journey but a deeply cherished ambition.
"It was her lifelong dream,” he said of the journey. He also said he had originally been expected to join her on the pilgrimage and so that made the situation even more painful for him and the family.
The tragedy has also affected other families connected to the pilgrimage. The Isha Foundation said its group was inside the immigration building when the flood hit.
Founder Jaggi Vasudev later spoke emotionally about the incident, saying the organisation had been in touch with the group shortly before communication was lost.
Nepal’s disaster is now of major magnitude after devastating flash floods struck in several areas and killed many people and caused huge disruption. Search and rescue teams are doing extensive work in the affected areas and families are searching for missing relatives.
But for Dandu and his family, the wider disaster has become more personal. They are waiting for any information that could finally reveal what happened to Sridevi.
Rescue and search teams continue to search for the missing and the family is still hoping that those still missing will be found and brought back safely.
