Kathmandu: Six more Kannadigas stranded in Kathmandu have appealed to the Karnataka government for immediate assistance, alongside 39 other tourists already seeking evacuation from the turmoil-hit Nepalese capital. The group, part of a Manasarovar pilgrimage, has been left distressed by political unrest, disrupted transport services, and the death of a fellow pilgrim during the journey.
Pilgrimage cut short after tragedy
The six individuals were part of a 36-member team from Karnataka undertaking a 14-day Manasarovar yatra between September 1 and 14. Their trip was abruptly cut short after N. B. Joshi, a 70-year-old resident of Hubballi, passed away on Monday (September 8) following a heart attack soon after taking a holy dip in the sacred lake.
The sudden death not only shocked the group but also triggered logistical challenges. Family members accompanying Joshi were forced to endure significant hardship while transporting his mortal remains back to Kathmandu amid escalating unrest in Nepal.
Hardship during final journey
Relatives described their ordeal, highlighting the hostility they faced from protesters at multiple checkpoints. Satish Kulkarni, a relative of the deceased, said, “There is utter chaos across Nepal. On humanitarian grounds, Chinese authorities allowed us to travel via road from their borders into Nepal. However, we faced hardship all through the 30 hours journey.”
With air services uncertain and unrest intensifying, the family eventually performed Joshi’s final rites at the revered Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on Tuesday night.
Government efforts fall short
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who represents Dharwad in Parliament, and the Indian Embassy in Nepal both intervened in efforts to repatriate Joshi’s body to India. However, with flights grounded and administration crippled in the Himalayan nation, the family had little choice but to conduct the cremation locally.
“The embassy tried its best, but the worsening protests left us with no help in bringing the body to India,” Kulkarni explained. The family is currently staying in a hotel in Kathmandu and has joined the stranded Kannadigas in urging the Karnataka government for immediate support.
Stranded pilgrims appeal for help
The six Kannadigas now join a larger group of 39 tourists from Karnataka, who remain stuck in Kathmandu as the crisis deepens. They have raised their plea for evacuation directly with the state authorities, stressing the need for urgent humanitarian assistance as food, shelter, and transport become increasingly uncertain.
With Nepal gripped by political unrest, Indian citizens are facing mounting challenges. Many fear that prolonged instability could worsen their situation, especially with limited means of communication and transportation available.
Awaiting state response
The Karnataka government has been approached to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs for evacuation measures. Families back in India are anxiously awaiting updates on the safety of their loved ones.
For now, stranded Kannadigas continue to hope that swift diplomatic and logistical intervention will ensure their safe return home. The situation has once again underlined the need for robust crisis-management mechanisms to assist Indian citizens caught in foreign unrest.