Mumbai: For the 54 pilgrims from Panvel-based Pratibha Astrology group, a visa that arrived just in time has acquired a chilling significance. Had it been delayed by a day, they said, they could have been at Timure on the morning of August 26, when the flash flood devastated the Timure-Rasuwagadhi border area.
Pune-based retired government officer Shyamrao Chavhan and his wife Vidya were among the group waiting at Syabrudesi village, a few kilometres before Timure, on August 25. “We got the permissions on the previous night and entered Timure around 7 am on August 25. That would have meant being at Timure on the fateful morning of August 26,” Chavhan said. At Saga, about 230 km beyond Timure on the China side, oxygen levels became a serious concern. Sandip Vashishth (47), a pontiff accompanying the pilgrims, said the group spent nearly three days there, including two days resting, to acclimatise before proceeding towards Kailash. Mulund residents Supriya Sawant (54) and her husband Sanjay Sawant (62) said the flash-flood reports and warnings from sherpas added to the anxiety.
“We had to stop the pradakshina midway because oxygen levels were too low,” they said. Chavhan said the Maharashtra government, particularly deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde , and Shiv Sena leader Rahul Shewale remained in touch with the pilgrims and helped facilitate their safe return. The group, led by Madhav Guruji of Pratibha Astrology, was awaiting visa clearance involving formalities between Timure and Delhi offices. Had the visa been delayed, we would have had to wait another day. The Sawants also thanked Shinde and Shiv Sena workers for maintaining contact during the ordeal.