INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
has said that her ministry would offer its assistance whenever necessary to rescue the 1,500 Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims stranded in
Nepal.Two Indian pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar yatra had died while over 1,500 others are stranded in mountainous regions of
Nepal due to bad weather conditions.The external affairs ministry is working to rescue the pilgrims as soon as possible, she told reporters
at the Chennai Airport."The Defence ministry will also offer its support whenever necessary," the union minister said.Ms Sitharaman was in
the city to take part in the 90th birth anniversary celebrations of Carnatic musician late Madras Lalitangi Vasanthakumari held on
Tuesday.The pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibetan region of China is considered holy by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains
Every year, hundreds of Indians undertake the 'yatra' which involves trekking under inhospitable conditions.The Tamil Nadu government had
announced the setting up of a control room in New Delhi to provide logistic support for pilgrims of Kailash Mansarovar yatra from the state
stranded in Nepal due to bad weather once they arrive in the national capital.The control room, manned by five officials, will be
functioning in the Tamil Nadu House and can be reached at 011-21610285 and 011-21610286, an official release said.According to state
government sources in Delhi, around 19 people from Tamil Nadu are among the over 1,500 Indian pilgrims stranded in mountainous region in
Nepal near Tibet due to bad weather.
