Bhubaneswar: A trip that began as a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar and Nepal ended on a tense note for three friends from the state, who decided to cut short their stay and return home after devastating flash floods hit parts of the country.Rakesh Kumar Panda of Puri district, along with his friends Shankar and Sarthak, had been in Nepal for around 10 days. They had returned from Kailash Mansarovar and visited Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on Wednesday. While Kathmandu itself remained unaffected, reports of the floods and devastation elsewhere in Nepal triggered panic and uncertainty among visitors.“After the incident, there was chaos everywhere. Hours after the flash floods hit, the local govt rescued us from Pashupatinath in a helicopter and dropped us at a point closer to the Kathmandu airport,” Panda said. With their flight plans disrupted, the trio decided to make their way back to India by road. They travelled towards the Nepal-India border and have now crossed the Raxaul border check post, reaching the Indian side safely. They are scheduled to travel towards Bhubaneswar and are expected to reach the city on Friday.Looking back at the ordeal, Panda said the three felt fortunate to have been able to leave Nepal before the situation became more critical. “We are fortunate to have stepped out of the country right on time. Hope all affected families get help,” he said.
