21 Tamil Nadu pilgrims rescued from Nepal floods arrive in Chennai

Twenty-one residents of Tamil Nadu, part of a larger group of pilgrims stranded in Nepal by flash floods, landed in Chennai late on Friday night. The group, hailing from Chidambaram and Mayiladuthurai, was evacuated through New Delhi as part of the ongoing rescue efforts for Indian nationals.

The pilgrims were travelling together in three vans when the flooding struck. One of the returnees recounted that their vehicle narrowly escaped the deluge. "Luckily, our van was at a turning when a huge wave hit the road ahead of us," the pilgrim said, adding that the other two vans were caught in the floods. The group was subsequently moved to a rescue camp and later to an Army camp before being taken to the Indian Embassy.

From the embassy, they were flown to New Delhi and then onwards to Chennai. The pilgrim noted that the Indian Embassy maintained contact with them throughout the ordeal, and that the Tamil Nadu government also extended assistance.

Rural Development Minister N. Anand received the pilgrims upon their arrival in Chennai. He stated that the State government was coordinating all necessary measures for their safe return and welfare, with four ministers overseeing the arrangements in consultation with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

Earlier on Friday, Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, along with Tamil Nadu Ministers Aadhav Arjuna, Rajmohan, R. Vinoth, and K. Thennarasu, had welcomed the group in New Delhi following their rescue.