Kailash Mansarovar yatra: India evacuates 150 citizens stranded in Nepal
Indian pilgrims trapped in Nepal
Over a 1,000 Indian pilgrims are stranded in Nepal and Tibet because of heavy rains. The 150 pilgrims were evacuated from Hilsa, a Nepalese town on the border with Tibet, to Simikot, and then on to Nepalganj
The situation remains precarious for the over 1,000 Indian pilgrims stranded in Nepal and Tibet.
The pilgrims were on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra but found themselves stranded because of heavy rains.
The Indian high commission in Kathmandu has been able to evacuate about 150 pilgrims from Hilsa, a Nepalese town on the border with Tibet, to Simikot.
Nine commercial flights were then operated and 158 pilgrims evacuated from Simikot to Nepalganj.
Nepalganj is in the Terai plains and borders UP's Bahraich district. From there, Lucknow, is a three-hour drive.
The Indian high commission is also in touch with the Nepalese Army, which has kept a helicopter in a state of readiness.
Conditions remain dire in the region because of the rains.
Meanwhile, 2 Indian pilgrims have died in Nepal. They were identified as Leela Narayanan Mandredath of Kerala and Satya Lakshmi Narayana Subba Rao of Andhra Pradesh.
Mandredath died in Simikot on the morning of July 2, possibly due to high-altitude sickness, while Subba Rao died from a heart attack in Tibert.
All necessary assistance is being provided by the high commission for early repatriation of the bodies.
The Indian mission is leaving no stone unturned to make certain the Indian pilgrims return home safely.
The mission, in liaison with civil authorities, is providing medical facilities to the stranded pilgrims.
The Indian mission sent a four-member team to Nepalganj on the evening of July 3. The team will reach Simikot and Hilsa at the earliest and set up camp offices to assist the stranded pilgrims.
The mission has also set up a hotline for pilgrims and their families. The hotline is available ??? in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.
In an exclusive conversation with WION, the Nepalese goverment assured all help required to the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims stranded in the country.
The chargé d’affaires of the Nepalese embassy Bharat Kumar Regmi said his government is doing its best to help the pilgrims and to provide them with shelter and medical facilities.
India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has tweeted about the situation and said India has requested the Nepalese government for army helicopters to help evacuate stranded Indian nationals.
Prime Minister Modi meanwhile is in touch with the MEA and other top officials regarding the well-being of Indian pilgrims stranded in Nepal. He has asked officials to extend all possible assistance to those affected.
India is hopeful all its citizens will be evacuated over the next three to four days so long as the weather continues to improve.