“Felt Like Winning a War”: Actor Manasi Parekh Details Harrowing Escape from Nepal-Tibet Floods

MUMBAI – Renowned actor Manasi Parekh has safely returned to Mumbai following a harrowing journey through the Himalayas, where a peaceful pilgrimage turned into a desperate race against the elements. The actor, who was part of the prestigious Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, found herself caught in the crosshairs of devastating flash floods that have crippled infrastructure across the Nepal-Tibet border.

A Journey of Uncertainty

The return leg of Parekh’s journey was marred by consecutive natural disasters that left her group stranded. The ordeal began near the Chinese town of Nyalam, where a massive landslide blocked their route, forcing the travelers to remain inside their transport for four agonizing hours while waiting for the path to be cleared.

“The last 3-4 days have been overwhelming, and getting out of China and reaching the Nepal border felt like winning a war,” Parekh shared in a social media update upon her arrival in Mumbai.

Even after navigating the first obstacle, the group faced further peril at the Nepal border. A second, more severe landslide made the road impassable, forcing the pilgrims to abandon their vehicle and trek on foot across the debris-strewn landscape to reach relief buses waiting on the other side.

“The Bumpiest Ride”

The final stage of the journey—a four-hour bus transit to Kathmandu—was described by the actor as the “bumpiest bus ride of our lives.” Despite the physical exhaustion and the trauma of the trek, Parekh maintained that the prospect of reuniting with her family served as her primary motivation.

“All this was worth it because it meant coming back to Mumbai, to my family, and getting to kiss my daughter,” she reflected.

A Chilling Near-Miss

The severity of the disaster struck home for Parekh when she realized how close she had come to the epicenter of the destruction. Sharing haunting visuals of the submerged region on August 27, she revealed that she had visited the now-devastated area just five days prior.

“I was literally welcomed at this spot five days ago… and now the whole place is submerged,” she wrote, expressing disbelief at the rapid transformation of the landscape.

Regional Devastation

The flash floods, which began around August 26, caused catastrophic damage across the Himalayan belt. The Rasuwa district in Nepal, along with downstream regions like Nuwakot and Dhading, bore the brunt of the disaster. The floods resulted in the destruction of multiple bridges, essential road arteries, and private homes, severely disrupting travel for pilgrims and locals alike.

Professional Resurgence

After successfully navigating the crisis, Parekh is expected to focus on her professional commitments. The actor, who continues to be a prominent figure in regional cinema, recently starred in the Gujarati crime thriller Shubhchintak, which premiered in theatres on May 30, 2025.

For now, the actor is prioritizing time with her family as she recovers from the physically and emotionally taxing pilgrimage.