The Embassy of India, Kathmandu continues to monitor the developing situation in Simikot/Hilsa route of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (through Nepal).
As of July 3, evening (4 pm), the status report is that the Mission has been able to evacuate about 150 pilgrims from Hilsa to Simikot. While Hilsa is extremely infrastructure lean, Simikot has decent boarding/lodging/communication/medical facilities
The Mission, in liaison with local airport authorities and flight operators, operated seven commercial flights by which 104 pilgrims were evacuated from Simikot to Nepalganj, which is a fairly big city with all modern facilities and three hours by road to Lucknow.
The Mission is already in touch with Nepal Army, which has kept a helicopter ready to operate as and when the weather improves.
The Mission operated special helicopters to bring bodies of two individuals – Leela Narayanan Mandredath (Passport no. L5486595, R/o Kerala) and Satya Lakshmi Narayana Subba Rao Grandhi Veera Venkata (Passport no. R 9327867, R/o Andhra Pradesh), along with five accompanying passengers, to Kathmandu and Nepalganj respectively.
The first person died in Simikot (on 2nd July morning), possibly due to High Altitude Sickness; while the second person succumbed to Heart Attack in Tibet and was brought to Simikot (on 3rd July morning). All necessary assistance is being provided by the Mission for an early repatriation of bodies to India.
The Mission, in liaison with civil authorities, is also providing medical facilities to stranded pilgrims.
The Mission has sent a four-member team to Nepalganj on July 3, evening. The team would reach Simikot and Hilsa at the earliest and set up camp offices for assistance to stranded pilgrims.
The situation continues to be under control and there is no need to panic. The Mission remains confident that all Indians would be able to evacuate all Indians over next three-four days in case weather continues to improve.
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