Stranded Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims rescued: Swaraj

New Delhi [India], Jul 24 (ANI): External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj on Tuesday announced that all 115 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims stranded in Uttarakhand's Gunji village have been evacuated and safely brought to Pithoragarh.

The Union Minister taking to her twitter handle said that the pilgrims stranded in Gunji due to inclement weather have been airlifted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to Pithoragarh.

"I am happy to inform that all Kailash Mansarovar Yatris stranded at Gunji (Uttarakhand) have been evacuated and brought to Pithoragarh by IAF helicopters. With this, normal movement of Yatris has recommenced," she tweeted.

On Monday night, Swaraj had tweeted that the pilgrims who were stranded are being looked after by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Kumaon Vikas Mandal.

Earlier on July 6, a total of 342 stranded Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims were evacuated by engaging 21 flights and two private helicopters from Simikot to Nepalgunj and Surkhet.

A huge number of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims got stranded in parts of Nepal following a heavy downpour earlier this month. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI