Back from the jaws of death, say deluge survivors

Rukmini, 43, a resident of Kengeri, and six of her co-tourists returned to the City on Saturday, after a harrowing, four-day ordeal at Karnaprayag.

The tourist group was going towards Badrinath via Karnaprayag, when the road was blocked by landslides.

“We were forced to stop at a hotel at Karnaprayag, but received no help from the authorities. Thankfully, the driver was a local resident. He suggested that we take the interior road, to return to Haridwar, although we had to travel about 75 km, instead of the regular distance of 10 km. We escaped danger just a few hours before the region was struck by floods,” Rukmini said.

Bharathi, another survivor, said, “On reaching Gowri Kund, we were asked to quickly get out of the bus by the driver. Without realising what was happening, we listened to his advice and went to the top of a three-storey building. Soon, we saw a massive flood washing down vehicles, houses, animals and people in its path. The moment is still horrifying to recollect,” she said.

“Had we delayed by 10 minutes, we would have been victims of 12-foot high tides. It was like watching a movie. We looked down from the top of the building that protected us from being washed away,” Neelakant, another tourist, said.

“For the last 20 years, I had a dream to visit Char Dham. But I didn't expect to experience the moment in such a manner. After being stuck in Badrinath for days without regular food and water and coming back alive, I feel like I’ve been born again, it’s inexplicable,”Atma rao said.