New Delhi, Aug 28:
Four Tamil Nadu ministers deputed by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay held discussions with senior officials in New Delhi on Thursday to coordinate efforts to rescue Tamils stranded in flood-hit Nepal and ensure their safe return to the State.
Acting on the Chief Minister’s instructions, Ministers Aadhav Arjuna, A Rajmohan, K Thennarasu and Agriculture Minister R Vinoth reviewed the rescue situation with officials and discussed measures to trace those who remain uncontactable following the devastating flash floods in the Nepal-Tibet border region.
The ministers are coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Nepal and officials at the Tamil Nadu House in Delhi to speed up rescue, relief and repatriation efforts. The discussions also focused on arranging medical assistance and counselling for rescued pilgrims and ensuring their safe travel from Nepal to Delhi and subsequently to Tamil Nadu.
A total of 103 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu are believed to have travelled to Nepal for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. While several have been rescued, efforts are continuing to establish contact with others who remain stranded or missing. The Tamil Nadu government has also opened helplines and deployed senior officials to coordinate with Nepalese authorities.
Minister A Rajmohan said the Chief Minister was being updated on the situation every hour and that all possible steps were being taken to bring the stranded Tamils home safely.