Owing to heavy rain and bad weather conditions nearly 1500 Indian pilgrims (525 pilgrims in Simikot, 550 in Hilsa and another 500 more in Tibet side) who are undertaking Kailash-Mansarovar yatra got stuck in Nepal.
“The Indian Embassy in Nepal has deployed representatives in Nepalganj and Simikot. They are in touch with the pilgrims and ensuring that food and lodging facilities are available to all the pilgrims,” Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
“Embassy of India in Kathmandu is in touch with the pilgrims. They are waiting on the evacuation routes but will have to wait till weather improves. Relief and medical facilities are being supplied to them,” the official said.
Nepal Union Minister of State for Tourism K.J. Alphons reportedly confirmed that Leela Namboodiripad from Mallapuram, Kerala, died due to respiratory problems on July 2 morning.
Preparations:
· Elderly are being provided required medical help in Simikot.
· In Hilsa Indian mission has requested police authorities for necessary assistance.
· To evacuate people from Simikot, the Indian Embassy is also looking for alternative routes, including the Simikot-Surkhet, Simikot-Jumla or Simikot-Mugu routes.
· The embassy is also trying to press in the services of Nepal Army helicopters, which can operate over difficult terrain.
· The Indian mission is also setting up a hotline for pilgrims and their family members in languages like Tamil, Telugu Kannada and Malayalam, as many of the pilgrims are from states where these languages are spoken.
· Mission coordinators are trying to prevent any more influx of pilgrims into the Nepali side from Tibet.
· The Indian mission has asked all tour operators in the region to try and hold pilgrims back in Tibet side
Hotline numbers
Pranav Ganesh, first secretary (consular) – +977-9851107006
Tashi Khampa, second secretary (consular) – +977-9851155007
Yogananda (Hotline – Kannada) – +977-9823672371
Pindi Naresh (Hotline – Telugu) – +977-9808082292
