2 Mansarovar pilgrims die; over 1,500 stranded

KATHMANDU: Two Indian pilgrims have died while over 1,500 others returning from Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet are stranded in Simikot in Nepal’s Humla district due to incessant rain and bad weather.

Authorities said inclement weather and difficulties in flying in Simikot, Hilsa and Tibet where the Indians are stranded slowed the rescue operations though seven flights were pressed on Tuesday.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj earlier said Kathmandu had been requested to provide Army helicopters to evacuate the Indians. The Indian Embassy here said it was in touch with the Nepali Army, which had kept helicopters ready for rescue mission as and when the weather improved. According to officials, 158 pilgrims were airlifted from Simikot while 200 pilgrimages were brought back from Hilsa.

They said that if the downpour continues, the rescue operations will be completed only by Thursday. Most of the stranded hail from southern India.

Mount Kailash, in the Tibetan region of China, is considered the abode of Lord Shiva and is sacred to Hindus. Located near lake Mansarovar, the place is considered holy by Jains and Buddhists as well. Weather conditions across Nepal have worsened since Monday due to perpetual rains in which at least a dozen people were killed. Food is available and the Nepali government has provided paramedical facilities to the pilgrims,” said Pranav Ganesh, First Secretary at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu.

He said 500 to 700 Indians were still stranded in Tibetan side, 600 in Simikot, the district headquarters of Humla district, and 350 in Hilsa.

The bodies of two Indians — Leela Narayanan Mandredath of Kerala and Satya Lakshmi Narayana Subba Rao Grandhi Veera Venkata of Andhra Pradesh — along with five accompanying passengers were flown to Kathmandu and Nepalganj in special helicopters, the Embassy said.