Embassy opens helpline as bad weather stranded 1500 Indian pilgrims at Kailash Manasarovar
Kathmandu, July 3: Heavy rains have seemed to take a toll disrupting the normal lives of the people. After heavy rainfall caused landslides at several locations, almost 1500 Indian pilgrims of Kailash Manasarovar are believed to be stranded in the mountainous regions along the route of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in Nepal.
The Indian Embassy in Nepal has informed that the team is underway monitoring the situation along Nepalganj-Simikot-Hilsa route of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (through Nepal). As of 3rd July morning, the weather situation remains inclement and there is very little chance of operating evacuation flights.
The Indian Embassy has set up hotlines for pilgrims and their family members who will provide information in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam languages. The helpline numbers are as follows: +977-9851107006, +977-9851155007, +977-9851107021, +977-9818832398. Hotline to contact language speaking staff: Kannada- +977-9823672371, Telugu- +977-9808082292, Tamil- +977-9808500642, Malayalam- +977-9808500644
As per the latest information available with the Embassy, there are about 525 pilgrims stranded in Simikot, 550 in Hilsa and another 500 more in Tibet side. Indian Embassy in Nepal has pressed in service of a medical personnel to do check up & medical aid of 250 pilgrims stranded in Simikot. The pilgrims who were on a pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar have been stranded in Simikot due to inclement weather condition in the area.
The Embassy representative in Simikot is also in touch with police authorities at police check post in Hilsa. The police authorities have been requested to take care of all the pilgrims and ensure best possible assistance to them.
The Embassy has asked all tour operators to try and hold pilgrims back in Tibet side as far as possible since the medical and civic facilities on Nepal side are inadequate. They have further been told to accord first priority in clearing up situation in Hilsa, which is the most infrastructure lean place in the area.
The Embassy is looking at various alternatives for evacuating stranded pilgrims from Simikot, including searching for alternative routes (Simikot-Surkhet/Simikot-Jumla/Simikot-Mugu). All these routes, however, appear to be as difficult as Simikot-Nepalganj. The Embassy is also trying to press in services of Nepal Army helicopters for evacuation.