72 stranded Indian pilgrims rescued from Northern Nepal

The Indian Mission in Nepal has rescued a total of 72 pilgrims stranded en route back from the Muktinath temple in Northern Nepal.

The group of pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharastra and some NRI's were returning from pilgrimage to Muktinath temple.

"Mission successfully evacuated 72 pilgrims stranded in Dana village, Myagdi district while returning from their pilgrimage to Muktinath. Those stranded included pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and some overseas Indians as well, comprising children and many elderly people over 70 years of age. They were stranded due to flash floods, incessant rains, landslides," Pranav Ganesh, First Secretary at the Indian Mission to Nepal informed ANI.

As per Ganesh, all the evacuations were made on Thursday morning only through the help of the small helicopters.

A heavy rainfall was witnessed in the Northern Himalayas of Nepal with frequent caving in and the landslides in various sections of the road on the way to Muktinath.

"The news of stranding reached us late yesterday. We took help of local administration to get food and shelter for them yesterday late night. In the morning, 18 sorties were conducted to evacuate them by identifying a helipad near the point of stranding," First Secretary Pranav Ganesh said.

The rescued pilgrims were first taken to Pokhara and then to capital Kathmandu. "The pilgrims were given initial medical attention upon arrival in Pokhara, and now the pilgrims have left for Kathmandu. The mission kept state governments in loop during the operation," Ganesh added.