Chennai, Sept 2:
The case relates to 57 people from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry who travelled to Nepal from Kumbakonam on August 23 through Super Yathra Travels, a private travel agency. They were caught in the sudden floods and landslides that hit Nepal on August 26. Among those reported missing is retired Madras High Court judge Sivagnanam.
Seeking urgent rescue measures and details of those rescued, undergoing treatment and still missing, advocate Parvesh Mushraf of Dindigul had filed a public interest litigation before the Madurai Bench of the High Court. He sought directions to the authorities to provide the families with accurate information about the status of the travellers and expedite rescue operations.
The petition was subsequently transferred to the principal seat in Chennai and came up for hearing before a Bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arulmurgan.
Appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, Advocate General Vijay Narayan told the court that 305 people from Tamil Nadu had travelled to Kailash for pilgrimage, of whom 220 had been rescued and sent back to their native places. Efforts were under way to rescue the remaining 85, he said.
The Advocate General further informed the court that the families of those reported missing, including the family of retired judge Sivagnanam, had been taken to Kathmandu at government expense to facilitate coordination and provide assistance.
The court, after hearing the submissions, directed the Central and State governments to file a comprehensive report detailing the rescue and relief measures being undertaken to trace and bring back those who remain missing following the Nepal floods.
The Bench adjourned the matter to next week, when the authorities are expected to place the status of the rescue operations and the missing persons before the court.
Meanwhile, the death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal has crossed 1,000, with 4,000 people still missing as rescue operations continue amid fresh flood warnings.
The floods, triggered by an ice and rock collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border, have destroyed bridges, roads and hydropower infrastructure. Around 12,000 people have been rescued, while more than 21,300 security personnel have been deployed for relief operations.