Guwahati: Eight migrant workers from Assam who were stranded in flood-hit Nepal were safely evacuated and brought back to the state, reaching Dhubri at around 3 am on Monday, while efforts continue to trace five colleagues who remain missing.
The 13 workers were deployed at a power grid company site in Nepal when a sudden rise in floodwaters reportedly caused water levels to surge by nearly 60 feet, inundating the worksite and surrounding areas.
As the waters rapidly rose, the workers managed to reach nearby hills, where they remained stranded for three days. Nepalese military personnel reportedly air-dropped food and drinking water to them before disaster response teams began a helicopter evacuation.
The rescued workers were subsequently flown to Kathmandu.
According to the workers, arrangements for their return to Assam were expedited following the intervention of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. An Assam Police team received the eight workers at the India-Nepal border late on Sunday and escorted them to Dhubri.
The workers left Dhubri early Monday for their respective home districts.
Those rescued have been identified as Pankaj Barman of Nalbari, Gopal Chand Debnath of Sonapur, Gautam Das of Doboka, Shilva Marak of West Karbi Anglong, Ilipson Sangma, Samar Bezbaruah, Sarbhishon Marak and Chanreshwar Narzary.
After reaching Assam, the workers recounted their ordeal during the flash floods and expressed concern over the five colleagues who are still unaccounted for.
The missing workers are reportedly from Nagaon, Nalbari and Karbi Anglong. Assam authorities are coordinating with their counterparts in Nepal and various rescue agencies to locate and trace the missing workers.