Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly, Udhayanidhi Stalin, questioned the chief minister C Joseph Vijay-led state government on Thursday over the Tamilians missing in Nepal floods, asking whether any action has been taken so far.
He added that efforts on to ascertain their whereabouts. A total of 57 pilgrims are said have taken up the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra through the Kumbakonam-based travel operator Super Travel Agency. Whereas the whereabouts of the remaining 37 are not known, according to Kumbakonam district administration around 20 pilgrims are safe. Tamil Nadu minister Rajmohan informed in the Assembly that apart from 57, Chennai tour agency took 49 pilgrims to Mansarovar yatra.
“Many Tamils who went missing in Nepal are still unreachable. How many calls were received on the Government helpline? After reaching there (Delhi and Kathmandu), I used to get calls regularly every morning and evening.
What action has been taken? – Udhayanidhi questioned in the state assembly on Thursday, according to ANI news agency While AIADMK MLA Edappadi K Palaniswami demanded the rescue of 57 Tamils, Congress said a helicopter should be sent to Nepal to rescue pilgrims from the state stranded there. “Out of 57 people, 20 are said to be safe. What is the status of the remaining 37? The remaining 37 must be rescued safely,” the PMK urged. Talking to HT, Vishnu Ramaswamy, whose mother and two sisters are part of the 57 pilgrims who took up the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra, said, “They left on the night of August 23. This morning (August 26), the last call I got from them was around 6.15 am.
“Disaster risks at tourist spots should be warned in advance,” the Congress reportedly said. They said they were safe and that was the last telephone call I received”.
