Indian mission evacuates 150 Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims stranded in Nepal

The Indian mission in Kathmandu has been able to evacuate about 150 pilgrims from Hilsa to Simikot in Kailash Mansarovar region. 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 9 commercial flights vide which 158 pilgrims were evacuated from Simikot to Nepalganj, which is a fairly big city with all modern facilities and three hours road connectivity to Lucknow.

The Mission is already in touch with Nepal Army, which has kept a helicopter in state of readiness to operate as and when weather improves.


The Indian Mission operated special helicopters to bring mortal remains of two individuals – Leela Narayanan Mandredath and Satya Lakshmi Narayana Subba Rao Grandhi Veera Venkata alongwith 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 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 Indian Mission, in liaison with civil authorities, is also providing medical facilities to stranded pilgrims.

The Indian embassy has sent a four member team to Nepalganj on July 3rd 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 the Embassy remains confident that all Indians would be able to evacuate all Indians over next three four days in case weather continues to improve.