Kailash Mansarovar Yatra: 2 Indian pilgrims die in Nepal; India sends commercial flights to rescue
Indian pilgrims trapped in Nepal
At least 525 Indian pilgrims have been stranded in Simikot, 550 in Hilsa and another 500 on the Tibetan side
The Indian embassy said today that two pilgrims died due to inclement weather conditions in Nepal.
Reports said one person belonged to Kerala and another was from Andhra Pradesh.
Earlier, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had said that India has deployed representatives in Nepalganj and Simikot to bring out pilgrims trapped in northwestern Nepal due to adverse weather condition in the area.
Two commercial flights from Nepalgunj landed at Simikot to get the pilgrims, the Indian embassy in Nepal said. "Getting stranded pilgrims would be gradual process depending upon the weather condition," the Indian embassy said in a statement.
At least 525 Indian pilgrims have been stranded in Simikot, 550 in Hilsa and another 500 in Tibet side as rain and landslips hampered the movement ofpilgrims set forKailash Yatra.
"They are touch with the pilgrims and ensuring that food and lodging facilities are available to all the pilgrims," Sushma Swaraj said on Twitter.
"We have set up hotlines for pilgrims and their family members who will provide information in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam languages," India's external affairs minister said.
In Simikot, India has set up a health check-up for elderly pilgrims and at Hilsa police have been requested for assistance.
India has requested helicopters from the Nepal government to evacuate Indian nationals trapped in Nepalganj and Simikot.
Thousands of Indian pilgrims take part in the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra every year via Nepal in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China ahead of the monsoon season.