5 days ago
Families Seek Missing Tamil Nadu Pilgrims After Nepal Floods
Several groups from Tamil Nadu travelled to Nepal for a spiritual pilgrimage.
Flash floods and landslides disrupted roads and communication networks.
Families became worried because they could not contact many of the travellers.
Relatives of 49 tourists from Chromepet asked officials to find them.
Six of seven pilgrims linked to Mayiladuthurai were reported safe, but two people from that group were still unaccounted for.
Three women from a 10-person Tiruchy group also said they were safe.
Those three women were staying in a military camp after their bus was caught in floodwater.
A spiritual speaker said another group of 150 pilgrims was safe near Manasarovar and Kailash.
Officials and families continued seeking information about those whose whereabouts were unknown.
Families of 49 tourists from Chromepet petitioned the Kanchipuram Collector after losing contact with them following Nepal flash floods.
The group travelled through Mahadev Kailash Yatra, left Chennai on August 14, and was scheduled to return on Thursday.
Relatives said communication networks were disrupted and appealed to the Central and Tamil Nadu governments for rescue efforts.
Six of seven pilgrims from Mayiladuthurai and Chidambaram were reported safe, while retired judge Sivaganam Venkatraman and Rajeswari remained unaccounted for.
Three of 10 women pilgrims from Tiruchy contacted relatives from a military camp, while a spiritual orator said 150 Tamil Nadu pilgrims were safe in the Manasarovar-Kailash region.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu pilgrims, including 49 tourists linked to Chromepet, seven pilgrims associated with Mayiladuthurai, 10 women from Tiruchy, and other groups travelling through Nepal.
- What
- Families reported that some pilgrims were missing or unreachable after flash floods, while others confirmed they were safe.
- Where
- The incidents occurred along pilgrimage routes in Nepal; some survivors were housed in a military camp, and another group was reported safe in the Manasarovar-Kailash region.
- When
- The floods and loss of contact were reported on Wednesday; relatives and officials sought updates on Thursday. The Chromepet group had left on August 14, while another group reportedly departed on August 23.
- Why
- Heavy rainfall, flash floods, landslides, disrupted communications, and difficult road conditions prevented families from contacting or returning the pilgrims.
Families Seek Immediate Rescue
Some Pilgrims Reported Safe
Extent of danger
Families Seek Immediate Rescue
Relatives said they had no information about many pilgrims after the floods and feared for their safety because communication networks had failed.
Some Pilgrims Reported Safe
Several travellers or their relatives confirmed that pilgrims were safe, including three women in a military camp and a group of 150 in the Manasarovar-Kailash region.
Return and rescue
Families Seek Immediate Rescue
Families urged state and Central authorities to act quickly, saying some survivors might need helicopters because roads were difficult to use.
Some Pilgrims Reported Safe
Reported survivors said they had escaped the flood and were being housed safely, although they did not know the whereabouts of other travellers.
Key facts
- Chromepet group
- 49 tourists travelled through Mahadev Kailash Yatra; 27 were women.
- Travel dates
- The Chromepet group left Chennai on August 14 and planned to return on Thursday.
- Mayiladuthurai group
- Six of seven pilgrims were reported safe; information about Sivaganam Venkatraman and Rajeswari was unavailable.
- Tiruchy group
- Three of 10 women pilgrims confirmed their safety by phone.
- Survivor location
- The three safe Tiruchy pilgrims said they were staying in a military camp.
- Other reported group
- Spiritual orator Desa Mangaiyarkarasi said 150 pilgrims were safe in the Manasarovar-Kailash region.
- Official appeal
- Relatives asked the Central and Tamil Nadu governments to locate and rescue unreachable pilgrims.
Quotes
Desa Mangaiyarkarasi
Tamil spiritual orator who released a video message from the Himalayas about pilgrims in the Manasarovar-Kailash region.
“We have come for Kailash yatra. All 150 of us are safe. We heard there is news about floods in Nepal. But we are here in the Manasarovar and Kailash area, very safe and secure. No one needs to worry about us. Everyone is well.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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