The Indian Embassy in Nepal said on Sunday that it is aware of the stranding of 200 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims in Simikot in Nepal due to bad weather.
(Photo: Google Maps)
The Indian Embassy in Nepal said on Sunday that it is aware of the situation of 200 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims who are stranded due to bad weather in Nepal’s Simikot.
In a statement, the Embassy said that the situation is under control and officials are in “continual touch” with the stranded pilgrims as well as their family members.
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“Embassy is aware that about 200 pilgrims stuck in Simikot due to bad weather & are in continual touch with them and their family members. Situation is under control and all stranded pilgrims would be evacuated as soon as weather clears up,” the Indian Embassy in Nepal said in a statement.
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“The Embassy representatives are taking all necessary action for the pilgrims’ well being,” it added.
The Embassy said that Simikot has basic lodging and medical facilities for up to 500 pilgrims.
“Numbers are not alarming and would take just a day of good weather and normal operations of flights to evacuate all those stranded,” said the Embassy.
In early July this year, over 1,500 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims were evacuated from Simikot and Hilsa in multiple airlift operations to Nepalgunj and Surkhet located close to the Indian border.
A massive rescue mission was mounted on 2 July after the humanitarian crisis erupted in Nepal due to inclement weather conditions. The Indian mission in the country deployed officials and representatives with medical facilities to help the elderly and ailing pilgrims in all the areas where pilgrims had become stranded.
The rescue mission itself faced problems due to bad weather since 2 July. Tour operators were roped in to help in the operation to airlift some of the pilgrims.
The Indian Embassy said that 74 commercial flights were operated and the Embassy additionally pressed in private Mi-16 choppers along with Nepal Army Helicopters that made more than 142 sorties in the difficult terrains of Hilsa-Simikot-Nepalgunj sectors.
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