Kanna Shifted To Simkot, Safe

Officials of the Defence Ministry on Monday shifted Housing Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana and 13 others who were stranded on the Tibet-Nepal border, from Hilsa to Simkot, in special helicopters.

However, the officials told the state government that it was impossible at present to shift the stranded minister, his 2 sons, an MLA and the other members of the group to New Delhi due to hostile weather conditions in the area.

The officials said they would make arrangements for shifting the pilgrimage party to New Delhi from Simkot on Tuesday morning.

The minister and his entourage, who went on a Manasarovar Yatra, were left stranded at Hilsa due to inclement weather. The group had set off on a pilgrimage arranged by Delhi-based Southern Travels on June 11 to visit Kathmandu, Nepalgunj, Simkot and Taklakote, Manasarovar and Kailash Parikrama.

The pilgrims, who were scheduled to be picked up by the tour operator at around 6am, were stranded as heavy fog prevented the tour operator from sending a vehicle across. Unable to get help from the tour operator, the minister telephoned Chief Secretary S V Prasad, and informed him of the situation.

S V Prasad, in turn, called the Defence Ministry for help.

Meanwhile, an official of the tour operator denied that the pilgrims were left to fend for themselves. (INN)