At least 21 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu stranded in Nepal have been rescued following devastating flash floods near the Nepal-Tibet border.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the rescue on Thursday, while the whereabouts of several other Indian tourists and pilgrims remain uncertain.

The rescued pilgrims were part of groups travelling through Nepal for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage. The sudden flash floods severely affected the Rasuwa region, damaging roads and disrupting communication links between affected areas and authorities.

Communication Breakdown Hampers Rescue Efforts

The MEA said rescue operations have been complicated by the extensive damage caused by the floods and the disruption of communication networks.

Officials have been working with Nepalese authorities to locate Indian nationals stranded in different parts of the country.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the figures were preliminary and could change as authorities establish contact with people in the affected areas.

The disaster has affected several groups of Indian pilgrims travelling towards or returning from the Kailash Mansarovar route. A group of 57 pilgrims from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry was among those caught in the flash floods, with some members reported safe while others remained unaccounted for.

Former Madras High Court Judge Among Those Untraced

The status of several people remains unclear, including former Madras High Court judge Justice Sivagnanam, who was reportedly travelling in the region.

Authorities have been trying to establish contact with those who remain untraced as rescue teams continue operations in the flood-hit areas.

The disaster has also affected other foreign tourists and Indian nationals. Reuters reported that hundreds of people remained missing after the flash floods struck the Nepal-China border region, with rescue operations continuing amid difficult terrain and widespread debris.

Tamil Nadu Government Steps Up Rescue Efforts

The Tamil Nadu government has been coordinating with the Centre and authorities in Nepal to trace stranded residents and facilitate their evacuation.

Officials are also collecting information from families and travel operators to establish the whereabouts of pilgrims who have lost contact with their relatives.

The situation remains fluid as rescue teams continue searching affected areas. With communication infrastructure badly disrupted, authorities are relying on multiple channels to verify the safety of those still unaccounted for.

The rescue of 21 Tamil Nadu pilgrims has brought some relief to anxious families, but uncertainty continues for many others as search and relief operations remain underway in flood-hit Nepal