Pilgrims stranded during religious tour to India returns home

NEPALGUNJ: The Indian Army rescued about 500 youths who were stranded at Badrinath-Kedarnath region due to rain havoc on Saturday. Indian Police and concerned government bodies safely brought the stranded Nepalis at Nepalgunj border in busses and train this afternoon.

The youths used to do labor work of carrying pilgrimages at Badrinath-Kedarnath temple. Most of them are from Mid and Far-western regions, sources confirmed.

According to them, over 1000 Nepalis have been stranded in the area. Meanwhile, Banke administration provided them some money for their travel to their residences.

Meanwhile 33 Nepali pilgrims, who were stranded in the Indian state of Uttarakhand after devastating floods and landslides, have been rescued from the bordering Indian city Banbasa, and brought to the Nepali side on Saturday.

A team comprising of Chief District Officer Parshuram Aryal, Superintendent of Police Binod Sharma and Vice Chairman of Kanhchanpur chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Jag Bahadur Malla picked up the pilgrims from the Indian side at around 1 pm today.

After serving a meal at a local hotel in Mahendranagar, the Kanchanpur District Administration Office sent them to Kathmandu. Majority of the rescued pilgrims are the residents of Kavre district.