Chennai , 26 August (H.S.):Around 50 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu were stranded in Nepal on Wednesday after flash floods triggered landslips and disrupted movement along their travel route, prompting the Tamil Nadu government to initiate rescue efforts.

According to preliminary information received by officials, the pilgrims were travelling in three vehicles when the flash flood struck around 8 a.m. near Timure, located about 150 km north of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu.

The group included pilgrims from Chennai, Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruchi and other parts of Tamil Nadu, as well as Puducherry. Two people from Maharashtra had also reportedly joined the group during the journey.

Officials coordinating the rescue operation said those travelling in one of the vehicles managed to reach a safer location following the landslips. Some of them initially took shelter on elevated ground before reaching an Armed Police Force outpost at Timure.

However, there was no immediate confirmation about the condition or location of the pilgrims travelling in the other two vehicles. Officials said communication difficulties and damaged roads were hampering efforts to obtain precise information from the affected area.

The Tamil Nadu government began coordinating with the Indian Embassy in Nepal and local authorities soon after receiving information about the incident. Efforts were under way to establish contact with all members of the group and arrange for their safe evacuation.

The flash flood, caused by heavy rain in the region, reportedly triggered landslips at several places and blocked roads, leaving travellers stranded. Rescue teams were assessing the situation and attempting to reach areas cut off by debris and rising water levels.

Officials said the number of stranded pilgrims and their condition would become clear only after communication links were fully restored. Families of the pilgrims were being kept informed as rescue operations continued.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman