Mansarovar pilgrims stranded in Nepal: PM Modi in touch with MEA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in touch with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and other top officials regarding the well-being of Indian pilgrims stranded in Nepal. He has asked officials to extend all possible assistance to those affected.

The Indian embassy in Nepal is working on the ground and assisting the pilgrims.
Around 525 pilgrims in Simikot, 550 in Hilsa and another 500 on the Tibet side are stranded after a heavy downpour caused landslides along the route of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra.

Earlier on Tuesday, in a series of tweets, External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj said that the Indian Embassy in Nepal has deployed representatives in Nepalganj and Simikot to provide help to the stranded pilgrims.

Hotlines have been set up for pilgrims and their kin, providing information in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam languages. Concerning officials are in constant touch with the pilgrims, ensuring that food and lodging facilities are available to all of them.

The annual Hindu pilgrimage of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, is is undertaken each year between June and September, with thousands of devotees taking part in the treacherous route that crosses territorial boundaries of India, Nepal and China.

The arrangements are done by the Ministry of External Affairs in cooperation with the government of People's Republic of China.

(ANI)