Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 28 (ANI): Thirty-five pilgrims and 10 support staff undertaking the Kailash Yatra under the auspices of the MSR Charitable Trust are safe and in good health amid flash floods in Nepal, the organisation said on Thursday.
Speaking to ANI, Usha Sree of the MSR Charitable Trust said the 45-member group had completed the Kailash parikrama and begun its return journey. The group includes former DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy and his family, besides other dignitaries and celebrities.
"Among VIPs, former DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy sir and his family have also gone with them, and there are other dignitaries/celebrities as well. Everyone is safe, so they will return safely," she said.
Usha Sree said the pilgrims had crossed through the Keyrung route, which has now been hit by flash floods. The group was scheduled to return through the same route, but the Chinese/Tibetan authorities have diverted them through an alternative route.
"They had crossed via the Keyrung route, and that route has now been hit by flash floods. They were supposed to return via that route, but now the Chinese/Tibetan authorities have diverted their route," she said.
After completing immigration clearance through the alternative route, the pilgrims are expected to reach Nepal and subsequently return safely to Hyderabad, Usha Sree said.
She said the group was currently on its return journey and was scheduled to halt on the Saga route on Thursday before reaching the Nyalam route on Friday. Following immigration clearance at Nyalam, they would proceed towards Kathmandu.
"Right now, after completing the Kailash parikrama, they are on their return journey. Today they are halting on the Saga route. Tomorrow they will reach the Nyalam route. After immigration clearance from the Nyalam route, they will proceed to Kathmandu," she said.
Usha Sree said the organisation was in constant touch with the government and receiving assistance, adding that there was nothing to worry about as the group was safe.
Former DRDO Chairman G Satheesh Reddy also told ANI over the phone that the pilgrims were safe and had started their return journey.
"We have completed our pehla snan of sarovar yatra successfully. We are all safe here," Reddy said.
He said the group was working out an alternative route for its return due to the floods and that the route was expected to be finalised on Thursday evening. Reddy said he expected to reach Delhi on August 30.
"Travel is safe. We are finding an alternative route because of the floods we have gone through; we are working out the return journey through another route. That will be finalized today evening," he said. (ANI)
35 Kailash Yatra pilgrims including ex-DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy, 10 others from Nepal safe amid flash floods
