Erode Youth Returns Home After Search for Parents Missing in Nepal Floods Fails

A youth from Erode has returned home after an unsuccessful search for his parents, who went missing following devastating flash floods in Nepal during a spiritual pilgrimage organized through a travel agency in Chennai.

Natarajan and his wife Krishnaveni, residents of Kanakapuram Paraiyankadu Estate near Vellotta in Erode, had travelled to Nepal as part of a tour group. The contingent comprised more than 50 people hailing from various villages across the region, including relatives from Namakkal.

On the morning of August 25, the couple spoke to their son, Kavinraj, over the phone. The following morning, massive flash floods struck the region, causing widespread devastation, killing hundreds of people, and leaving many others homeless.

After subsequent attempts to reach his parents failed, a worried Kavinraj flew to Kathmandu to search for them personally. He spent three days scouring various locations across the affected areas in an effort to trace their whereabouts.

According to accounts of the incident, a massive flood engulfed and swept away the building where Natarajan, Krishnaveni, and hundreds of others were staying at around 9:30 am. No contact could be established with the couple following the deluge.

The search operation faced severe challenges due to the aftermath of the disaster. Kavinraj noted that the Nepal government officially included his parents' names on the list of missing persons.

Rescue operations in the area remained severely hampered, with more than 30 feet of mud accumulated around the passport office building. Unable to obtain further leads or information on the ground, Kavinraj decided to return to his hometown in Tamil Nadu.