Bengaluru, (DHNS): Karnataka has reached out to its mission in Nepal after it received an SOS call seeking help for about 290 Kailash Manasarovar pilgrims supposedly stranded in the Himalayan region. “Around 290 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims from Karnataka stranded in Simikot, Nepal due to heavy rain in the Himalayan region,” Karnataka’s Revenue Department (Disaster Management) tweeted on Monday evening, requesting the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu for assistance. Authorities have also reached out to Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Pilgrims and their families may contact Pranav Ganesh, first secretary, Embassy of India Kathmandu at +977 985-1107006. Hundreds of Indian pilgrims are reportedly stranded in the region due to bad weather. A similar situation occurred in 2016 and hundreds of pilgrims were evacuated. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has directed authorities to initiate quick action to save the pilgrims.

He has directed Karnataka’s resident commissioner in Delhi to step in, according to a statement from the chief minister’s office. The Indian Embassy has informed the state government that help will be provided to pilgrims, the statement said.a “The Embassy of India, Kathmandu is continuously monitoring the situation in Simikot. Embassy representatives in Nepalganj and Simikot are personally in touch with all stranded pilgrims and are extending all possible support to them for stay, and ensuring availability of food/water,” the CMO informed. The evacuation, however, is not feasible as of now due to inclement weather. Authorities are also looking into the possibility of heli-evacuation for critical cases, the CMO said.