Udhayanidhi Questions Vijay Govt Over Nepal Pilgrims
Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin has questioned Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s government over efforts to locate pilgrims from the state who remain unaccounted for after devastating flash floods struck Nepal and the Tibet border region.
Udhayanidhi Stalin Questions Vijay Government
Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday, Stalin asked how many calls had been received through the state government’s emergency helpline and what specific action had been taken to trace missing Tamil pilgrims.
His intervention came as families struggled to establish contact with relatives travelling on the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage when the floods struck on August 26.
The opposition has demanded faster coordination with Indian diplomatic authorities and Nepalese agencies involved in rescue operations.
57 Tamil Nadu Pilgrims in One Tour Group
A group of 57 pilgrims had travelled through a Kumbakonam-based tour operator. Initial information indicated that around 20 members of the group had reached safety, while the whereabouts of the remaining pilgrims were being established.
State minister Rajmohan told the Assembly that another Chennai-based agency had taken 49 people on the Kailash Manasarovar pilgrimage. Authorities are collecting details and attempting to establish contact with those travellers.
The situation remains fluid, with the number of people confirmed safe changing as communication is restored.
Opposition Demands Faster Nepal Rescue Effort
AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami called on the government to ensure the safe return of stranded pilgrims, while Congress legislators suggested deploying a helicopter for rescue operations if required.
PMK also urged authorities to prioritise tracing those who remain unreachable.
The Vijay government said it was coordinating with relevant agencies and taking steps to locate the affected travellers as rescue operations continue across flood-hit areas.
