‘Chances of survival look slim’: 67 from Maharashtra still untraceable after Nepal flash floods

'Chances of survival look slim': 67 from Maharashtra still untraceable after Nepal flash floods Maharashtra administration on Sunday stated that 69 individuals from the state had crossed from China's Kodari Immigration Center into Nepal and were anticipated to reach Mumbai by Monday.

Key points

• Meenakshi Subramanian (60) and her husband Venkata Subramanian (67), from Kandivali were on Kailash Mansarovar.
• According to Maharashtra administration on Sunday, 69 individuals from the state had crossed from China's Kodari Immigration Center into Nepal and were anticipated to reach Mumbai by Monday.
• The Ramakrishnan family from Mumbai is among those whose members were headed to Tibet to complete their Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage before they went missing.
• The trail of devastation left behind in the riverside town of Betrawati in Nepal on Sunday.
• Ramakrishnan remarked the family has been in touch with Indian, Nepalese and Chinese embassies.

For context, a photograph of a family lies against the backdrop of the debris as search operations intensified. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal).

As plenty of as 67 pilgrims from Maharashtra who were stranded in Nepal after the flash floods remained untraceable, with their families awaiting news of their loved ones.

According to Maharashtra administration on Sunday, 69 individuals from the state had crossed from China's Kodari Immigration Center into Nepal and were anticipated to reach Mumbai by Monday. Earlier 142 citizens were brought back to the state.

Meanwhile, the Ramakrishnan family from Mumbai is among those whose members were headed to Tibet to complete their Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage before they went missing. "At 8.21 am, I got a message from my brother-in-law Venkata saying, 'We are at the immigration centre at (Nepal), heading towards Tibet.' He has been untraceable since then, " C G Ramakrishnan informed The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, the trail of devastation left behind in the riverside town of Betrawati in Nepal on Sunday. Betrawati is additionally on the main route employed by pilgrims travelling to Gosaikunda, a pilgrimage site in Rasuwa. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal) Ramakrishnan's sister, Meenakshi Subramanian, and her husband were among the 67 individuals who had travelled to the region on a pilgrimage led by Dr Milind Chitale. When floods struck, the group was at the Timure border immigration centre, preparing to cross into Tibet.

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Ramakrishnan remarked the family has been in touch with Indian, Nepalese and Chinese embassies. But there is no information regarding the whereabouts and status of 67 members of Richa Tours and Travels in Nepal and Hills and Trails in Mumbai.

Meenakshi Subramanian (60) and her husband Venkata Subramanian (67), from Kandivali were on Kailash Mansarovar. Their last kn­own location is Timure, Ras­uwa, one of the worst-hit districts.

Ramakrishnan remarked, "From what we could gather from embassies is Rasuwa was the epicenter of the flash floods. We are anxious to regarding the whereabouts of our loved ones. Their phones are switched off or unreachable. Authorities are trying to find them but we are losing hope as the chances of survival look dim. We hope we are wrong and some miracle happens."

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Thane-based Joshi family is additionally waiting to hear from their loved ones. Sachin Joshi, a relative of a couple who have been missing, remarked the families of those missing in Nepal have formed a WhatsApp group to coordinate their efforts. "My relatives, Samir Joshi and Aparna Joshi are missing. All relatives have formed a WhatsApp group for coordination." © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd.

Taken together, the developments around 'Chances of survival look slim': 67 from Maharashtra still untraceable after Nepal point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.