‘Why Were We Spared?’ Georgia Couple Says Unplanned Everest Detour Saved Their Lives in Deadly Nepal Floods

Mita and Hemant Parikh of Suwanee, Georgia, say an unplanned detour to view Mount Everest likely spared them from the catastrophic floods that struck Nepal in August. The couple told CBS Atlanta they are still struggling with the question of why they survived when several members of their pilgrimage group did not.

The Trip and the Detour

The Parikhs were part of a 47-person pilgrimage traveling to Mount Kailash, a sacred Hindu site in the Himalayan region of Tibet. Their party included families from the United States, Australia and other countries and was led by seven guides. A short, unplanned excursion to Lhasa and the Everest viewing point separated the Parikhs from the main group — a decision they now say likely saved their lives.

'That's what we talk to each other every single day,' Mita told CBS Atlanta, reflecting on the choice that put them apart from the rest of the group. 'Why did we decide this way?'

Immediate Aftermath

After visiting the Everest viewpoint, the Parikhs planned to return to their main party with the guide who accompanied them. When they tried to rejoin the group, they discovered the hotel where they had been staying had been washed away and that communications were impossible. Several families and all seven guides from the pilgrimage remain missing.

An aerial view of flooding in Bidur Municipality.Credit: Prabin RANABHAT / AFP via Getty

'As soon as I close my eyes, I see Kailash, and I see the people,' Mita said. Hemant added, 'I ask myself why? And I don't have an answer.' The couple described a persistent search for meaning in their survival.

Wider Impact

The floods caused widespread destruction across Nepal's infrastructure and communities. Authorities have reported at least 1,400 deaths linked to the disaster. More than 6,000 people remain missing, according to the Associated Press, and Politico has reported that at least 85 of the missing are U.S. citizens. Local and international rescue efforts continue amid difficult conditions.

The Parikhs say they had been planning the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash for 15 years and describe their experience as a mix of gratitude and profound survivor's guilt. They hope that, if spared for a reason, their survival will be put to meaningful use.

Reporting from CBS Atlanta and People provided details about the Parikhs' account.