Deekshith D V
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Sep 14: Naresh Nanda (41), who was stranded in Srinagar after massive floods hit Jammu and Kashmir, has safely reached Chennai, much to the relief and joy of his family and well-wishers in Mangalore and elsewhere.
Naresh, employed as regional product head (south) of HBD Financial Service, was stuck at the Lalith Group of Hotels in Srinagar due to the heavy floods since Thursday September 4. For a while, his family even lost contact with him and his wife Surekha made a desperate appeal through the media to help trace her husband, after which she was once again able to speak to him over the phone.
Speaking to Daijiworld over the phone, Naresh narrated his experience during the 10 days of his stay in the midst of severe flooding in Srinagar, and said, "Authorities of the Lalith Group of Hotels did not allow us to go out due to intense flooding in the town. There were 70 people who were stuck in the hotel and we had no access to communication. We had no power, but the authorities managed to provide rice and daal to us.
"A few local VIPs asked the hotel authorities to send us away from the hotel and allow them to stay there instead. But the hotel authorities turned down their demand and instead supported us. We had to walk 6 km from the hotel to reach the Srinagar highway and from there the army escorted us till Srinagar airport," he said.
During the 10 days he was stranded in the hotel, he ran out of his daily dose of tablets for diabetes and as drug stores were closed and due to added tension amid floods, his health deteriorated. His wife Surekha made every effort to make authorities ensure his speedy return on health grounds.
"Due to severe floods, we had no access to communication. Shops and drug stores were also closed due to floods. Our company head also met the MD of Lalith Group of Hotels in Delhi and asked him to help us. Yesterday night, I reached Delhi and today I reached Chennai," added Naresh, relief evident in his voice, adding that he was looking forward to reuniting with his family in Kankanady.