Chennai: More than 400 people, mostly pilgrims, from Tamil Nadu were in Nepal when a glacier collapse triggered a mud-tsunami on Wednesday. More than 90 of them are still unreachable, information minister A Rajmohan said on Friday.Meanwhile, 21 from a group of 57 pilgrims from the state on a Kailash Mansarovar yatra returned safely to Chennai on Friday night.“The situation is extremely challenging,” the minister said. “Communication has been disrupted and several bridges have been damaged. Every hour is crucial. We are making all possible efforts to establish contact and bring back every survivor,” he told reporters in Delhi.More than 140 tourists from the state had been traced. They are safe in different locations in Nepal. “In several cases, officials have only the names of the travellers. They are working to match them with photographs and other details to establish their identity and whereabouts,” he said.“We keep getting information about new groups and individuals who have travelled to Nepal. Apart from those who went in large, organised groups, many people have travelled individually or in smaller groups. We are trying to trace every single person,” Rajmohan said.The minister said a control room had been set up at Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi to coordinate the rescue and tracing operations. Information is being exchanged continuously with Union govt, Nepalese authorities and other agencies.Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu special representative in Delhi K Venkata Narayana said two groups of more than 140 people each, along with another batch of 39, have been confirmed safe. “Our ministers spoke to them. They are moving to Kathmandu and will then return to Tamil Nadu,” he said. “We are also working to trace another missing group of 49.”He said TN govt team deputed by chief minister C Joseph Vijay to Delhi was tracking the tourists’ itineraries to figure out the possible locations. The govt was also reaching out to local drivers and tour guides. “Our sole focus is to trace the remaining 90-plus people and bring them home safely as soon as possible,” he said.
