The Sampat family, comprising Mithil Sampat, his parents, cousin-sister and her parents, were in Manali for the inauguration of the hotel. They arrived in Manali on Saturday, July 9, 2023

On Saturday evening, the Sampats received a government notification warning of heavy rainfall in the area. However, they were not able to get any further information about the situation, as communication was cut off. And on Wednesday, as the families managed to head towards Chandigarh airport to board a flight for Mumbai, the entire experience was no less than a miracle

Rains in Manali can be deceiving. In Mumbai, we gauge the intensity of rainfall by heavy rains and strong winds. In Manali, there will be deceptively mild drizzles but the real indicator of danger is the rising river level of the Beas River, pointed out Mithil Sampat, a lawyer by profession

On Sunday morning, Sampat's friends departed from Manali to go back to Mumbai. Their testimony was that en route from Manali to Chandigarh airport, they narrowly escaped death several times - dangerously small roads, and landslides and boulders falling near their car. They left early in the morning at 6 am and thereafter electricity and communication were suspended later in the day. Because of this, neither they could inform the Sampat family of danger, nor could the Sampat family communicate with them about their whereabouts

On Tuesday morning, the Sampats finally managed to leave Manali. They were stuck in a traffic jam for several hours, as the roads were still congested. They also had to pay inflated prices for fuel. On Wednesday evening the Sampats finally reached Chandigarh airport and were to board their flight for Mumbai (Pic/PTI)