‘Trying to reach a safe location’: Missing UK couple's last message from flood-hit Nepal

The UK-based couple with Kolkata roots were in Nepal for Kailash yatra when the floods struck, leaving them out of contact with their family. A UK-based Indian-origin couple with roots in West Bengal’s Kolkata have gone missing during a Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage through flood-hit Nepal, with the family holding on to a haunting last message from them. A drone view of people walking on a road and houses in mud, following deadly flash floods and mudslides at Devighat, Nuwakot district, Nepal, (Photo for representation) (REUTERS)Anal Kar is a chemical engineer, while his wife, Sanjukta Kar, is a teacher. They moved to the United Kingdom in 2001 and live there with their two children. The couple, fond of travelling with the Himalayas holding a special place for them, had undertaken another Himalayan trek a few months ago. Track live updates on Nepal floods Anal and Sanjukta reached Kathmandu on August 18 after meeting relatives in Kolkata. They were last traced to Timure near the Nepal-Tibet border, according to news agency PTI. The couple were travelling to Kailash Mansarovar when they went missing.Deep DiveThe family last heard from them on August 26. Sanjukta sent photographs from the trip to her father, Ranjit Dutta, over WhatsApp on the night of August 25. The couple were scheduled to leave around 6 am the following morning to complete immigration formalities at the Nepal-Tibet border.Also read: Infosys Public Services CEO ‘unreachable’ as hundreds go missing after Nepal floods“My daughter had contacted me over WhatsApp on the night of August 25. They were scheduled to leave at around 6 am on August 26 for immigration formalities. Sanjukta had also sent several photographs from their trip,” Dutta was quoted as saying.The final messageRanjit Dutta said that Sanjukta sent her final message to a WhatsApp group of friends at around 8 am on August 26.“She wrote that a landslide alert had been issued in the area and that they were trying to reach a safe location on foot as quickly as possible. After that, we have not been able to contact them in any way,” he said.Also read: Rain-like effect, water-filled passages: Inside flood-hit Nepal tunnels where several remain trapped for 4 daysThe family trying to trace the coupleThe family contacted the travel agency handling the trip, but it could not provide any information about the couple’s location or condition.Sanjukta’s aunt said the family approached the police the following day. A police team from Bhawani Bhavan subsequently visited their home and collected the necessary information.Also read: Aerial footage shows port near Tibet before and after Nepal flash floodsWest Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari also spoke to the family over the phone and enquired about the missing couple. The family hopes that Sanjukta and Anal will be found and brought home safely.Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read MoreNepalFloodsNdrfRescue TeamGet the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather major national developments and Karnataka Bandh LIVE.