Chennai, Aug 28:
Twenty-one pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, who were stranded in Nepal following the devastating flash floods near the Nepal-Tibet border, are set to return to Chennai on Friday, while the whereabouts of 36 others remain unknown.
The 21 pilgrims, part of a 57-member group from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, had been reported safe after the disaster struck Nepalās Rasuwa region, cutting off roads and communication links along the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route.
Tamil Nadu government officials have stepped up efforts to bring the stranded pilgrims back safely, while search operations continue for the remaining 36 members whose fate is still unclear. The group includes pilgrims from several districts, with a significant number of elderly travellers.
The flash floods, triggered by a massive glacial collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border, have caused widespread devastation across central Nepal. Rescue agencies are continuing searches amid damaged roads, disrupted communication networks and fears that several travellers may still be stranded in remote areas.
With the death toll from the Nepal-Tibet flash floods climbing to 469, authorities in Nepal and India are racing to trace hundreds of missing people, including foreign tourists and pilgrims.