New Delhi:
As many as 200 pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Nepal were stranded due to inclement weather conditions in Simikot, Hilsa, the Indian Embassy in the landlocked country said on Sunday.
"Our headcount on the evening of August 4 revealed that there are 124 pilgrims in Simikot and 50 others in Hilsa or about to come to Hilsa," a statement released by the Embassy read.
However, to a great relief for all those stranded pilgrims, Simikot has basic boarding and lodging facilities for up to 500 yatris while initial medical examination and first aid provisions were also made available to avoid untoward incidents.
The Embassy is in continual touch with the pilgrims and will evacuate all those stranded as soon as the weather becomes favourable for the operation of flights.
"Numbers are not alarming and would take just a day of good weather and normal operations of flights to evacuate all those stranded," the Embassy said.
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"The Mission's representatives in Simikot/Hilsa/Nepalganj are on alert and continuously monitoring the situation. In case of any emergency, the Mission would ensure safe and timely evacuation of stranded pilgrims," it added.
Moreover, an Emergency Control Room, equipped with eight-member multilingual personnel, has been functioning to cater the need of the pilgrims and their family members.
In July, 1,430 pilgrims were evacuated from Simikot and Hilsa in multiple airlift operations to Nepalgunj and Surkhet located close to the Indian border. As many as 74 commercial flights along with private Mi-16 choppers were operated to make the mission successful.
The pilgrims were stranded for five-six days as heavy downpour in western Nepal damaged roads and hampered transportation.
Every year, thousands of Indian pilgrims take part in the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Nepal in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China ahead of the monsoon season.
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The annual pilgrimage is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) between June to September, in cooperation with the government of the People's Republic of China through two different routes - Lipulekh Pass (Uttarakhand) and Nathu La Pass (Sikkim).
