84 Tamil Nadu Pilgrims Still Missing After Nepal Flash Floods

At least 84 people from Tamil Nadu remain untraceable following the flash floods in Nepal, even as the state government intensifies efforts to locate them and bring the stranded back home.

Speaking in the assembly, Tamil Nadu Minister Aadhav Arjuna said 305 people from the state had travelled to Nepal. Of these, 220 have been confirmed safe, while contact has not yet been established with 84 others. So far, 21 pilgrims have returned safely.

The minister noted that 21 of the 57 people who travelled through the Super Yathira agency in Kumbakonam have returned, while contact has not been established with the 49 pilgrims who travelled through the Chennai-based Mahadev Kailash Yathira agency. Several others who travelled in different groups have been traced and are expected to return in the coming days.

There is a slight discrepancy in the figures: if 305 travelled and 220 are safe, the balance is 85, one more than the minister's count of 84 missing. The status of that one individual remains unclear.

Families remain anxious. In Chennai's Chromepet, Niranjana is waiting for news of seven relatives, including her parents, who travelled through the Mahadev agency. Her parents had completed their pilgrimage but then headed towards the Chinese border, and no information has been received about their safety since.

The minister said the Centre is in touch with the Tibetan and Chinese administrations regarding those whose whereabouts are unknown. The Tamil Nadu government has also offered to help families of the missing travel to Nepal if required.

Chief Minister Vijay had earlier sent a four-member ministerial team to Delhi to coordinate with the Centre. The state's Resident Commissioner in Delhi has been instructed to travel to Nepal to expedite rescue and repatriation efforts.