BENGALURU: A day after an Indian woman died of altitude sickness in Nepal after returning from Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage, around 290 people from Karnataka are feared stranded at Simikot in Nepal due to heavy rain in the Himalayan region. The disaster management wing from the state, headed by IAS officer Gangaram Baderia, has alerted Union government, Ministry of Home Affairs and Indian embassy at Nepal to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. Sources said that a message has been sent through Twitter, urging the Indian community in Nepal to help the stranded pilgrims.
The tourists from Karnataka had gone to Kailash Mansarovar by booking the trip through various operators. The only mode of transport from Simikot to Nepal Ganj is helicopter. But the weather is not favourable to fly choppers and the trip operators are not taking any chances. Contacting the tourists has been tough because of network issues following heavy rains. They have been taking shelter at different hotels. Pilgrims are from different parts of Karnataka, including Bengaluru.
However, all the pilgrims are safe and the state government is making all arrangements to bring them back, the sources said. The Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), Revenue Department (Disaster Management), of the state government, which first tweeted about the plight of the pilgrims, later in an update said they were safe and it was in constant touch with them. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy directed the Resident Commissioner of Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi to take all necessary action immediately to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.
Accordingly, the Commissioner held discussions with the officials of the Indian embassy in Kathmandu and the Nepal government, an official release said on Monday night. The embassy officials assured immediate necessary action, it added. The EOC tweeted: "Due to inclement weather helicopter services affected between Nepalgunj and Simikot. Stranded #Kailash Manasarova Yatra pilgrims from Karnataka are safe. State Emergency Operation Center officers in constant touch with pilgrims.” In an earlier tweet, it said: "#SOS Around 290 #Kailash Manasarova Yatra Pilgrims from Karnataka stranded in #Simikot #Nepal due to heavy rain in Himalayan region, @IndiaInNepal kindly do the needful.
The pilgrims were even said to be facing shortage of food, officials said here.
