KOLKATA: The terrifying visuals of the flash flood in Nepal have left families of the 33 Bengal travellers caught in the disaster zone in a state of shock and praying for a miracle.There has been no contact with the tourists who were on their way to Kailash-Mansarovar and were scheduled to cross the Nepal-China border on Wednesday morning when a massive water and rock surge swept through the region.CM Suvendu Adhikari said 33 persons from the state are missing although a list released by the govt gave 32 names, all part of a tour organised by the Kolkata-based Chalo Jai Travel Club.The agency has kept its office open round the clock since Wednesday to attend calls and visits from anxious family members.It is also in constant touch with its Nepal-based partner, Samrat Tours & Travels, which has deployed a private helicopter to search the flood-hit area.But till late Thursday, the fate of the 30 tourists and 2 managers in the group was not known.Also missing in the disaster zone is Sarmistha Bhowmik Roy, daughter-in-law of former Union minister Mukul Roy. Her husband, former Bijpur MLA Subhranshu Roy, has left for Nepal.The majority of those in Chalo Jai’s team are senior citizens — retired professors, engineers and banking professionals who loved trekking.An elderly couple from New Town had saved for two years to fund the trip while a Behala resident, a Shiva devotee, had waited for years before embarking on the cherished journey.There was a glimmer of hope on Thursday when one member of the group, Moushumi Ganguly, was apparently identified by one of her friends in a rescue video on social media, but there was no official confirmation of the rescue.CM Adhikari said control rooms have been set up at Nabanna and Bhawani Bhavan to coordinate efforts to trace the tourists and facilitate their return.“Senior officers are handling these dedicated lines. They are trying to support and reassure the distressed families. They are also in touch with the Indian embassy in Nepal. For now, all we can do is hope and pray,” he said.
