📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Michael Gäbler
Weather
Saree Saves 21 Tamil Nadu Pilgrims in Nepal Flood Evacuation
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 30 Aug 2026, 06:33 PM
👁 40
During a sudden flash flood in Nepal, a group of 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu used a saree as a makeshift rope to pull themselves to safety.
A sudden flash flood swept through a remote area of Nepal, trapping a group of 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu who were on a religious tour. The rising waters forced the travelers to seek any available means of escape as the current grew stronger.
In the absence of proper rescue equipment, the pilgrims improvised by tying a traditional saree around a sturdy tree branch and using it as a lifeline. One pilgrim lowered the fabric into the fast‑moving water, allowing others to grasp it and pull themselves to higher ground.
Local rescue teams arrived later and helped evacuate the remaining members, confirming that all 21 pilgrims survived without serious injury. The incident highlights the vulnerability of travelers in disaster‑prone regions and the resourcefulness often displayed in life‑threatening situations.
Authorities in Nepal have urged tourists to stay updated on weather alerts and to carry basic safety gear when trekking in flood‑susceptible zones.
In the absence of proper rescue equipment, the pilgrims improvised by tying a traditional saree around a sturdy tree branch and using it as a lifeline. One pilgrim lowered the fabric into the fast‑moving water, allowing others to grasp it and pull themselves to higher ground.
Local rescue teams arrived later and helped evacuate the remaining members, confirming that all 21 pilgrims survived without serious injury. The incident highlights the vulnerability of travelers in disaster‑prone regions and the resourcefulness often displayed in life‑threatening situations.
Authorities in Nepal have urged tourists to stay updated on weather alerts and to carry basic safety gear when trekking in flood‑susceptible zones.