Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Stranded Kannadigas in Nepal Seek Airlift Amid Landslide Risk
A group of pilgrims from Karnataka is stuck in Nepal.
They are worried because landslides could make their long road trip dangerous.
The trip back could take 12 to 15 hours.
The pilgrims asked Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar whether they could be flown to safety.
He said he would study the situation and try to take action.
He told them not to lose courage.
Karnataka officials are also helping people return through Delhi to Bengaluru.
The government is still trying to locate 17 people from Karnataka whose whereabouts were unknown on Saturday.
Kannadiga pilgrims stranded in Nepal asked Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for an airlift.
The group said landslides made the road journey risky and potentially 12-15 hours long.
Shivakumar said he would assess the situation and discuss arranging an airlift.
He directed officials to arrange accommodation in Delhi for Kannadigas returning onward to Bengaluru.
Seventeen people from Karnataka, including Lax Gopisetty, remained untraceable in Nepal on Saturday.
- Who
- Kannada-speaking pilgrims from Karnataka, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and state officials are involved.
- What
- Stranded pilgrims requested an airlift from Nepal, while Karnataka coordinated efforts to ensure their safe return and trace 17 unaccounted people.
- When
- The request and government interaction took place on Saturday; no specific date was provided.
- Where
- The pilgrims were in Nepal, including the Darchan area, with travel planned toward Nyalam and onward through Delhi to Bengaluru.
- Why
- Floods and landslides disrupted communication and transportation, making the road journey risky and potentially causing travelers to become stranded.
- Airlift request
- Pilgrims asked Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to arrange an airlift.
- Road journey
- The return route was described as risky and likely to take 12-15 hours.
- Government response
- Shivakumar said he would assess the situation and discuss the possibility of an airlift.
- Return arrangements
- Officials were instructed to arrange accommodation in Delhi before onward travel to Bengaluru.
- Untraceable people
- Seventeen people from Karnataka remained untraceable in Nepal on Saturday.
- Named individual
- Lax Gopisetty, CEO of Infosys Public Services, was among those reported untraceable.
- Conditions
- Floods and landslides disrupted communication and transportation across parts of Nepal.