Over 1,500 Indian pilgrims stranded on their route to Kailash Manasarovar in mountainous region in Nepal near Tibet due to bad weather phenomena have been rescued through helicopter. Due to adverse weather, the flights were affected badly for 3 days.
Indian travelers are happy after the weather condition improved and allowed a dozen flights to and from Simikot Airport. More than 150 Indian pilgrims flown from Simikot to Nepalgunj while 250 flown from Hilsa to Simikot by helicopter on Tuesday.
Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Rabindra Adhikari stated that after 3days of flight cancellation due weather at Simikot Airport, stranded pilgrims were airlifted to Nepalganj on Tuseday. 10 flights transported 160 passengers.
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Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) reported, “After the weather improved, 410 Mansarovar Pilgrimages stranded at Simikot and Hilsa were air lifted yesterday. 160 passengers transported from Simikot to Nepalgunj and 250 passengers from Hilsa to Simikot. There are still about 700 passenger at Simikot and 600 passengers at Hilsa.”
Earlier, the government of India requested the Nepal Government to rescue the pilgrims, to keep the arrangement of living and the military helicopters quickly.
Ghanshyam Acharya, senior general manager of Sita Air stated that the carrier hope rescue the backlog of passengers by Wednesday at the same time the weather is expected to remain partly good. 88 pilgrims were brought to Simikot from Nepal yesterday.
Indian embassy with support from airlines authorities delivered a four-member medical team to Simikot and Hilsa on Tuesday.
The pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibetan region of China is considered holy by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Every year, hundreds of Indians undertake the ‘yatra’ which involves trekking under inhospitable conditions.
