A Georgia couple, Mita and Hemant Parikh, have shared their harrowing experience of surviving the recent devastating floods in Nepal. In an interview with CBS Atlanta on Tuesday, September 22, the couple described how an unplanned detour to Mount Everest inadvertently saved their lives.
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The Parikhs were originally part of a larger group of 47 travellers, which included families from the United States and Australia, guided by a team of seven experts. Their aim was a pilgrimage to the sacred site of Mount Kailash, a significant location in Hinduism that the couple had eagerly anticipated visiting for 15 years. Tragically, the floods that swept across Nepal in August have left many people missing, including both their travelling companions and all of the guides.
The couple’s decision to divert from their intended route towards Mount Kailash turned out to be fortuitous. “That’s what we talk to each other every single day,” said Mita, reflecting on their change of plans. “Why did we decide this way?” The couple explained that the diversion came during a moment of mutual agreement, a rarity when it came to planning their travels.
“It is a bucket list item that you don’t choose; God chooses for you,” Mita noted, suggesting that their fateful decision was a matter of providence rather than mere chance. Hemant had driven the choice to visit Everest, asserting that viewing the highest mountain in the world was an opportunity too significant to miss. “At least, I cannot climb, but I can go and see from a distance,” he expressed.
Upon returning from their excursion to Everest, the Parikhs were met with a shocking reality. Their accommodation had been completely destroyed by the floods, and they suddenly found themselves cut off from their travel group. “As soon as I close my eyes, I see Kailash, and I see the people,” Mita recalled, filled with poignant memories of the journey they had prepared for so long.
The psychological impact of their situation weighed heavily on both of them. “I ask myself why?” Hemant reflected, grappling with the unsettling notion of being possibly the only survivors from their travelling party. Mita echoed his sentiment, stating, “That’s what keeps me awake. Why? Why did God choose us to live when so many others did not?” Their thoughts are laced with questioning and searching for meaning in the tragic events.
The recent floods in Nepal have wreaked havoc on the region’s infrastructure, leading to widespread destruction. According to reports, at least 1,400 individuals are confirmed dead following the calamity, with over 6,000 people still unaccounted for. Among those missing are at least 85 U.S. citizens, as highlighted by Politico.
As the couple continues to process their experience, their story serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of travel and the fragility of life. The Parikhs, having been long-time devotees of the pilgrimage, are now left grappling with their emotions while seeking clarity on their unanticipated survival in the face of such devastation.