Sixteen Keralites return home safe after Nepal floods ordeal

Sixteen Keralites caught in the Nepal-Tibet border region during devastating flash floods have returned to the state, with one traveller among those who had lost contact now confirmed safe, according to the NoRKA-Roots help desk.

The desk, set up to assist stranded Keralites, has now verified the safety of 45 people who reached out for help. Those still abroad have informed relatives they remain safe in Nepal and other parts of India while working to arrange their journey back.

Lost phone, train journey home

Rineeth Mohan from Piravom in Ernakulam district, who left for Nepal on August 23, was near Pokhara when the floods struck. Alerted by relatives, he turned back but lost his phone while travelling to New Delhi, cutting off contact with his family. He boarded a train from the capital on Thursday and reached Kerala on Saturday afternoon.

A 14-member group from Kochi is also among those who have returned. Sruthi Shikhamani from Kakkanad, who had travelled for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, was in Kathmandu when the floods hit and has since made it back.

Seven still unaccounted for

Seven people, including four Malayalis who are Australian citizens, remain untraced. Their details have been forwarded to the Ministry of External Affairs.

On instructions from the Chief Minister's Office, NoRKA-Roots has arranged onward travel to Kerala for those arriving in India from Nepal. The agency has asked people to contact the NoRKA help desk or the NRK Development Office in Delhi for assistance.

Source: The Hindu