A pilgrimage cut short, loved ones swept away
Summary
A sudden flood on the Bhotekoshi river swept away a chartered bus carrying 36 pilgrims from Gorkha to Gosainkunda, leaving two dead, six survivors and 28 missing. Families in Palungtar are grieving and blaming the lack of timely warnings for the tragedy.
Key Points
- A chartered bus carrying pilgrims from Majhtar in Palungtar, Gorkha, was swept away by a sudden flood on the Bhotekoshi river near Bhainse in Nuwakot.
- Authorities have recovered two bodies, six passengers survived by jumping off the bus, and 28 people remain missing, including the wives of the two survivors interviewed.
- Survivors Badri Prasad Devkota and Tularam Devkota say they narrowly escaped before the bus was submerged and later tried to search for their families.
- The grieving families believe timely flood alerts and better communication along the Trishuli corridor could have reduced the deaths and disappearances.
