{
  "id": 3783646,
  "title": "21 TN Pilgrims Rescued In Nepal, Status Of Others Including Former HC Judge Unclear",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/21-tn-pilgrims-rescued-in-nepal-status-of-others-including-former-hc",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T16:45:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/21-tn-pilgrims-rescued-in-nepal-status-of-others-including-former-hc-judge-unclear"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chennai, Tamil Nadu: In a breakthrough following flash floods that caught Indian Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims and tourists in Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the rescue of 21 individuals from Tamil Nadu. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal revealed the names of the 21 rescued pilgrims, but anxiety persists for the families of the remaining tourists and pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, including former Madras High Court judge Justice Sivagnanam, who remain unaccounted for. Tamil Nadu Information Minister Rajmohan informed the Legislative Assembly that out of the 103 people from Tamil Nadu and three from neighboring Puducherry stranded in Nepal, 20 had been rescued and efforts were underway to locate the rest.\n\nThe situation has caused concern among families, especially after contact was lost with 49 spiritual tourists who had traveled to Nepal from various parts of Tamil Nadu for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. According to the tour operator, the group reached out to them over the phone. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay convened a meeting and directed Ashish Kumar, Resident Commissioner of Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi, along with a team of officials, to travel to Kathmandu to oversee relief and rescue measures and aid in the safe return of survivors from Tamil Nadu. Rajmohan, Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna, Agriculture Minister R Vinoth, and Minister for Non-Resident Tamils Welfare K Thennarasu were also sent to New Delhi to coordinate the operations. Nepal may seek electricity from India following damage to 8% of its power capacity due to the floods. Isha Foundation founder Jaggi Vasudev, in a video message from the Tibet side of the China border, reported that 80 followers, including nationals from 17 countries, were missing, comprising 46 women. Roads and telecommunication services were cut off, leaving no information about the missing members. Eight pilgrims from Coimbatore, including four women, are also missing after traveling through a Chennai travel agency. In Thanjavur, 16 tourists' family members are urgently seeking information. Authorities are offering comfort and hope through a WhatsApp group to keep them updated. Despite some people like Muthunathan from Tiruchi being relieved to hear their relatives were safely evacuated, the heavy damage to roads leaves uncertainty about when they will be airlifted to Kathmandu. Relatives of the missing individuals remain glued to television channels, hoping for any clue about their loved ones, while desperate contact with the State Helpline.",
  "summary": "Chennai: In the first breakthrough in rescuing Indian Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrims and tourists caught in the flash floods in Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said 21 persons from Tamil Nadu have been rescued. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the name list of the 21 rescued pilgrims. However, anxiety continued for relatives of the remaining tourists and pilgrims…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}