Mysuru: A couple from Mysuru are among the more than 1,500 pilgrims reportedly stranded in Simikot, Hilsa in Nepal, and in Tibet, during their Kailash Manasarovar trip. According to their son in Mysuru who contacted them on Tuesday, they are likely to be shifted from Simikot on Tuesday evening.
Sixty year old Manjegowda, a retired KSRTC bus conductor and his wife, 56-year-old Chandrakala, residents of Bogadi here, are among 250 pilgrims who had travelled through Shankara Yatra, an agency. According to Shankara Yatra sources, “Among the 250 pilgrims, 230 were from Karnataka. While 40 of them were stranded in Hilsa, 70 were stranded in Simikot. Manjegowda and Chandrakala started their journey by helicopter on June 21, they were supposed to return on Tuesday (July 3). We have been able to get in touch with our tourist guide at Simikot. They are likely to start their return journey Tuesday evening,” the sources said.
The couple have two sons, Raghavendra and Guruduth, their elder son is in America, and the other works in Vidyavardaka college here. Guruduth said, “Our parents reached Simikot on Monday evening. They said that they are not facing any problems in getting food or medical facilities and the only hampering factor is the heavy rain.”
Mysuru DC Mr Abhiram G Shankar said, “We are in constant touch with the disaster management wing secretary, the CM’s office, Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi and the Indian embassy in Kathmandu. According to embassy officials, the rescue mission is in full swing. There is sufficient food and medicines too. They are also trying to help the pilgrims using the services of local medical practitioners. Government of India has opened hot lines in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. If weather permits, they would be evacuated on Tuesday. Two people, one from Kerala and the other from Andhra Pradesh, have died due to high altitude sickness and cardiac arrest. The bodies have been moved to Kathmandu and Nepalganj on Tuesday morning.”
