Guwahati: For days, the flash floods in Nepal have kept several families in Assam trapped in a cruel limbo — caught between desperate hope and the fear of the worst.For retired Gauhati University professor Dipali Sarkar’s family in Guwahati, the trip has now turned into a search for answers. Sarkar and her husband, Manash Kumar Ghosh, were travelling to Kailash Mansarovar when disaster struck on Wednesday. The family plans to leave for Nepal on Sunday.“We have been informed by govt that the couple completed the immigration formalities on the Nepal side, but the process with the Chinese authorities was still pending. After the disaster struck, however, we have not been able to establish any contact with them,” said Sarkar’s nephew, Tamajit Ghosh.The couple had no international roaming and contacted family through Wi-Fi. Nepal authorities reportedly said their Sherpa’s number was also “detached”.In Nalbari, worker Arun Mahanta’s family awaits news. Assam minister Jayanta Mallabaruah spoke to his wife Namita on Saturday and assured her of govt support.Arun, who left for Nepal in Feb, is missing from the Trishuli project’s workers’ colony. His last call to Namita was on the day of the disaster.“The network was poor, and the call got disconnected around 6.45 am. That was the last time I spoke to him. He was feeling sleepy after working the night shift,” said Namita.“Just tell me where my husband is. I have three daughters, and I am helpless without him,” she appealed to govt.Meanwhile, Arun’s co-workers Samar Bezbaruah and Pankaj Barman, both from Nalbari’s Arara village, were rescued. Pankaj’s father, Upen Barman, said he called after being airlifted to Kathmandu on Friday.“He told us not to worry and said he got a new life. Somehow, he survived and was safe with Samar,” Upen said.Pankaj’s mother said he appeared safe during a video call but was shaken by the devastation.“Pankaj told us that he spent nearly two days without food before reaching Kathmandu. Authorities have arranged clothes and accommodation for the rescued workers,” she said.
