Sushma Swaraj Intervenes, More Than 100 Out Of 1500 Stranded Indian Pilgrims Rescued From Nepal

More than 100 out of the 1,500 Indians, who were stranded in Nepal’s mountainous regions due to inclement weather, were rescued from Simikot in Nepal on July 3. The Indians who have been stranded were returning from the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage in Tibet. Reportedly, out of the 1500 Indians, at least 290 are from Karnataka.

An Indian Embassy official told PTI, “So far 104 pilgrims have been rescued from the site. Seven commercial flights have so far been operated for the rescue works”.

Updates On Twitter

The centre has intensified its rescue mission work and has been continuously monitoring the situation along Nepalganj-Simikot-Hilsa route of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (through Nepal). Moreover, Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj has been tweeting updates with regards to the rapidly developing situations in the area. In a series of tweets from July 2, Swaraj gave out valuable information aimed at updating citizens in India and helping those who are stranded as well.

The Foreign Ministry said there are about 525 pilgrims stranded in Simikot, 550 in Hilsa and another 500 in Tibet side.

Indian pilgrims stranded in Nepal – There are about 525 pilgrims stranded in Simikot, 550 in Hilsa and another 500 in Tibet side. /1 #IndiansStrandedInNepal

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 3, 2018

Indian Embassy in Nepal has deployed representatives in Nepalganj and Simikot. They are touch with the pilgrims and ensuring that food and lodging facilities are available to all the pilgrims. /2 #IndiansStrandedInNepal

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 3, 2018

In a tweet, she informed that health check-ups of all elderly pilgrims have been done and required medical assistance will also be given to them when needed.

In Simikot a health check up has been done on all the elderly pilgrims. They are being provided required medical help. In Hilsa we have requested police authorities for necessary assistance. /3 #IndiansStrandedInNepal

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 3, 2018

We have requested Government of Nepal for army helicopters to evacuate stranded Indian nationals. /4 #IndiansStrandedInNepal

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 3, 2018

Meanwhile, friends and families of stranded Indians have been tweeting to Swaraj and telling her about their locations and condition.

@SushmaSwaraj We, 700 Kailash yatrigas are stuck at simikot Nepal.Last 2 days' flights cancelled due to bad weather & today because of rain. Our food stock is empty. Please rescue us (Contact: +9779863065815 (Rammohan, Nepal))-[Tweeting on behalf of my Kailash yatriga friends]

— venkatramanan (@venkatramanan) July 2, 2018

However, bad weather conditions in the area have made it difficult to find alternative routes to bring back the pilgrims. According to the Times Of India, an official said, “The mission sent a four-member team to Nepalganj on July 3 evening. The team will reach Simikot and Hilsa at the earliest and set up camp offices for assistance to stranded pilgrims”.

Statements From State CMs

According to NDTV, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said, “There is no problem for anybody. It will take another three to four days’ time to bring them to India. They are already working on it. All are safe”.

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu has also asked officials from his government to help nearly 100 pilgrims who are also stranded.

#AndhraPradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu inquired about Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims from the state who are stranded in Nepal's Simikot, ordered officials to provide adequate help. The Real Time Governance Centre (RTGS) officials to spoke to some of the pilgrims. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/fnOaHdQXQg

— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2018

Meanwhile, three Indian pilgrims have died. The three have been identified as Leela Narayanan Mandredath (Kerala), Satya Lakshmi Narayana Subba Rao Grandhi (Andhra Pradesh) and Ramachandran (Tamil Nadu), reported the Times Of India.

Hotline For Stranded Indians

In her latest tweets, Swaraj has said that the ministry has set up hotlines for pilgrims to provide information in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam languages.

We have set up hotlines for pilgrims and their family members who will provide information in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam languages. /5 #IndiansStrandedInNepal

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 3, 2018

Pl RT
Pranav Ganesh First Secy +977-9851107006
Tashi Khampa +977-98511550077
Tarun Raheja +977 9851107021
Rajesh Jha +977 9818832398
Yogananda +977 9823672371 (Kannada)
Pindi Naresh +977 9808082292 (Telugu)
R Murugan +977 98085006 (Tamil)
Ranjith +977 9808500644 (Malayalam)

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 3, 2018

Thousands of Indians travel to Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage in Tibet every year. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a pilgrimage which holds immense religious and cultural significance for people of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain faiths. The trek to Mansarovar is not only treacherous, but it becomes more risky and slippery during unfavourable climatic conditions.

Reportedly, the Ministry of External Affairs organises this tour each year between June and September in cooperation with the government of China through two different routes – Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim).