Over 1,500 Mansarovar pilgrims from India stranded in Nepal, Swaraj requests govt to evacuate them

Over 1,500 Indian pilgrims on their way to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra are stranded in Nepal's Simikot after heavy rains caused landslips. 

The pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibetan region of China is considered holy by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. 

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that India has requested the Nepal government for army helicopters to evacuate stranded Indian nationals.

In a series of tweets, Swaraj said India has set up hotlines for pilgrims and their family members who will be provided information in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam languages.

"There are about 525 pilgrims stranded in Simikot, 550 in Hilsa and another 500 in Tibet side," she said.

Stating that the Indian Embassy in Nepal has deployed representatives in Nepalganj and Simikot, she added, "They are touch with the pilgrims and ensuring that food and lodging facilities are available to all the pilgrims. 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."

Swaraj also said that the government has set up hotlines for pilgrims and their family members who will provide information in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam languages.

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

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 3, 2018

The Indian embassy is also looking at various alternatives to evacuate the stranded people from Simikot, including through separate routes.

On Monday, an Indian woman died of high altitude sickness in Nepal after returning from Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage in Tibet, according to a media report.

Leela Mahendra Narayan, 56, of Kerala died in Simikot of Humla district yesterday, Kathmandu Post reported.