A 72-year-old pilgrim has gone missing after being swept away by the Surya Mati (Tadi) River while bathing near the renowned Dupcheshwar Mahadev Temple in Dupcheshwar Rural Municipality-6, Nuwakot.
According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Shantiraj Koirala from the District Police Office, the missing individual, identified as Himkumari Adhikari, a resident of Suryagadhi Rural Municipality-3 and currently residing in Kathmandu, was visiting the temple with her family when the incident occurred. While performing a ritual bath in the river before visiting the temple, Adhikari was swept away by the current.
Search and rescue operations were launched immediately, but as of this afternoon, no trace of her has been found, according to Suryagadhi Rural Municipality Chairman, Santabahadur Ghale. The search has been hampered by the river’s strong flow and murky waters due to recent flooding.
In a bid to aid the search, the rural municipality has announced a reward of NPR 50,000 for anyone who finds the missing elderly woman. Local authorities continue to work diligently, but the challenging conditions are slowing progress in the rescue efforts.
