TN government initiated all necessary steps for pilgrims’ return: CM Edappadi Palaniswami

Reacting to an appeal by Leader of Opposition MK Stalin, the CM said he had instructed the officials to find out if there were anyone from Tamil Nadu as soon as he got information about the stranded pilgrims. The government officials had obtained information from the Union Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Nepal.

The first group of 19 rescued pilgrims have been brought back to Lucknow. Two officials from Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi have been sent to help them return to Chennai, he said.

Earlier, Stalin stated in the assembly that about 300 persons from Tamil Nadu were stranded in Nepal due to heavy rain and one of the pilgrims Ramachandran had died due to the chill weather.

In an interview to mediapersons, former MLA Gayathri Devi, who was also stranded at Nepal, had said about 400 persons were forced to stay in a place which could accommodate only 100.