Lost touch 12 hours before disaster: Patuli family
Times of India | 28 August 2026
Kolkata: For Rupama Pal, the sound of her mobile phone ringing has become a source of both hope and dread.
Since her father, Amarnath Pal (61), a former govt employee, became untraceable during his trip to Nepal, she has remained glued to her mobile phone, waiting for a call that could bring news of his safety.
Amarnath had left Kolkata on Aug 21 and was travelling in Nepal when contact with him was lost. The family last spoke to him on Tuesday night. Since then, Rupama has been scanning television channels and calling govt helplines for information, but has heard nothing definite about his whereabouts.
“He left on Aug 21 and we last spoke on Tuesday night. Since then I have not been able to contact him. We heard in the news that he is untraceable in the floods. I have been calling up the govt helpline and scanning the news for any information on his safety but no information is forthcoming,” said Rupama on the phone. “My father often goes on trips like this.”
The uncertainty has also forced the family to leave their Patuli home locked. Rupama has taken her mother to her own residence, worried that the elderly woman may find it difficult to cope with the anxiety as neighbours and others continue to enquire about Amarnath.
“She is worried and scared and people have been coming to ask about my father. So I have brought her to my place,” said Pal.
The neighbours in their Patuli home have also been watching the news. “All we want is that he returns safely,” said a next-door neighbour.
In Santoshpur, a similar wait has gripped residents of Eastern Park, where neighbours are anxious about the elderly couple, Manas Kumar Ghosh and his wife Deepali Sarkar. Both are in their sixties and left for their trip last week. Their neighbours learnt about their situation through news reports and have been unable to confirm their safety. Their second-floor apartment was locked on Thursday afternoon. Several neighbours even called up the govt helpline to find out about the couple.
“They shifted to this building only a couple of years ago. Since they are much senior to us there was only social interaction. We came to know from the news that they were also travelling to Nepal and are untraceable now. All of us praying for their safety,” said Pinky Dutta, a neighbour. The couple’s only daughter, Adrija, lives in Delhi. The couple’s car is parked in the building.
“Sir told me to look after his car. The couple would often take the car out.”
The tourists, travelling through Kolkata-based Chalo Jai Travel Club, entered Nepal via the Raxaul border as part of a 15-day tour.