How a last-minute detour in Nepal saved the lives of holidaying US couple

23 Sep 2026 • 11:48 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

How a last-minute detour in Nepal saved the lives of holidaying US couple

  • Mita and Hemant Parikh from Georgia, USA, survived a catastrophic flash flood along the Nepal-Tibet border after taking a spontaneous detour to view Mount Everest.
  • The couple were on a long-planned pilgrimage to Mount Kailash with a 47-strong international group, none of whom have been found alongside their seven guides.
  • The August flash flood, likely triggered by a collapsed glacier, left over 1,400 people dead and 5,000 missing, including at least 80 US citizens.
  • Nepal's finance minister warned the ultimate death toll could approach that of the 2015 earthquake, which claimed over 9,000 lives.
  • Reconstruction costs across Nepal are estimated at nearly $5 billion, with disaster aid funding set to be discussed at the UN General Assembly.

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