1500 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims stranded
More than 1500 pilgrims, mostly from India are stranded on Nepalganj-Simikot-Hilsa route of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Nepal due to bad weather.
In Nepal efforts are on to evacuate stranded Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims. According to the Embassy of India 525 pilgrims stranded in Simikot, 550 in Hilsa and another 500 in Tibet side. The mission is continuously monitoring the situation. The representatives of Indian Embassy in Nepalganj and Simikot are personally in touch with each and every stranded pilgrim. They are ensuring that proper food and lodging facilities are available to all the pilgrims.
The medical practitioner in Simikot conducted health check up of all the elderly pilgrims and providing preventive medication and medical counseling.The police authorities have been requested to take care of all the pilgrims and ensure best possible assistance to them. The Mission has also asked all tour operators to try and hold pilgrims back in Tibet side as far as possible since the medical and civic facilities on Nepal side are inadequate.
The Embassy is also looking at various alternative routes for evacuation. The local airlines operating on the route have been asked to ensure availability of extra aircraft in Nepalganj to evacuate all stranded pilgrims as soon as weather clears up. It is also trying to press in services of Nepal Army helicopters, which has superior abilities of operating in difficult terrain. A hot line for pilgrims and their family members has also been set up.
The number are +977-9851107006, +977-9851155007 , +977-9851107021 , +977-9818832398 and +977-9851165140. The hotline for Kannada, Telugu, Tamil and Malyalam speaking people have also been set up. The Kannada number is +977-9823672371, Telugu, +977-9808082292, Tamil +977-9808500642 and Malyalam +977-9808500644. Meanwhile, according to Met division, moderate to heavy rainfall is likely to continue at many places in the country.
