CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government is intensifying rescue operations for 21 tourists currently stranded about 160 km north of Kathmandu in the Rasuwa region of Nepal. These tourists are part of a larger group of 57 individuals from Tamil Nadu who were affected by flash floods in the area. Authorities are working swiftly to ensure their safe return amid challenging conditions.
“Some foreigners are here nearby. They immediately came and rescued us. We are getting water and food but it is getting dark and most of us are senior citizens. We can see helicopters flying now and then.
We will be happy if we are rescued soon,” a woman pilgrim one of the survivors, said in the audio message in Tamil language.
Tamil Nadu minister for hindu religious and charitable endowments Ramesh spoke to the travel operator and informed him that all necessary steps are being taken by the government to safely bring back the stranded pilgrims. Meanwhile, former chief minister and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami urged the Central government to expedite the rescue operations in coordination with the Government of Nepal and the Tamil Nadu government to to ensure proper coordination and seamless flow of information. The Tamil Nadu chief of Bharatiya Janatha Party Nainar Nagenthran said, “ the news that 105 Indians have gone missing after being caught in sudden flash floods in Nepal’s Rasuwa region is deeply distressing.It is shocking that 37 out of the 57 Tamil Nadu tourists who had gone on a tour through a private agent from Kumbakonam remains unknown.
Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay said he has instructed senior officials of the state government to take all the necessary measures to swiftly rescue those hailing from Tamil Nadu missing in this disaster and to provide all required assistance to those affected. Further more, the chief minister said, steps are being expedited to gather information about the people from Tamil Nadu through the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Indian Embassy in Nepal ensuring their safety. “I pray to the Almighty that everyone who is reported missing is rescued safely and return home in good health,” he said. Communisty Party of India (Marxist) P Shanmugam said, “On behalf of the CPI(M), we urge the government of Tamil Nadu to take all necessary measures with a sense of urgency to bring back all the stranded Tamils,” he said.
