{
  "id": 4314662,
  "title": "After Days Of Landslides And Communication Breakdowns, Maharashtra Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrims Return Home Safely From Nepal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/after-days-of-landslides-and-communication-breakdowns-maharashtra",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T00:23:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/after-days-of-landslides-and-communication-breakdowns-maharashtra-kailash-mansarovar-pilgrims-return-home-safely-from-nepal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai: After days of landslides, disrupted communication, and uncertainty, Maharashtra pilgrims stranded in Nepal while returning from the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra have finally returned home. Smita Pradeep Pawar, a Pune resident, was among four pilgrims who were stranded at Kerung (Gyirong) while returning from the pilgrimage. Maharashtra Chief Minister, disaster management office, and coordinated efforts helped the four and several others reach Maharashtra from Kathmandu on Saturday. The experience left them fearful, as they had no access to the internet, making them and their families anxious.\n\nThe journey of the 37 stranded Maharashtra pilgrims involved navigating landslides and changing modes of transport, with Mumbai resident Aarti Sharma recounting the difficulties faced by her group. She and her fellow pilgrims had to cross three landslides, with senior citizens among them falling ill and needing hospitalization. After reaching Mansarovar, the situation worsened, and they had to travel via different modes of transport before finally making it to Kathmandu.\n\nAnother group of nearly 100 Maharashtra pilgrims made their way into India through the Bihar route. They reached Patna and boarded a train to Nagpur, with assistance from the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office for their onward journey to their respective homes. The ordeal was marked by days of uncertainty for families in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, as they struggled to contact their missing pilgrim. Sanjay Patankar, a Thane resident, shared his family's experience, citing the lack of communication networks outside Kathmandu as problematic. They plan to create a missing persons list and standardize identification details for future pilgrimages.\n\nThe flash floods that struck Nepal on August 26 damaged roads and bridges, disrupting connectivity and leaving tourists and pilgrims stranded. Rescue and evacuation operations were launched to reopen routes and move stranded travelers to safety. The Maharashtra pilgrims' journey from a pilgrimage to a series of challenges and finally back home was marked by adversities, including landslides, roadblocks, various modes of transport, and communication difficulties.",
  "summary": "Mumbai: After days of uncertainty, landslides and disrupted communication, Maharashtra pilgrims stranded in Nepal while returning from the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra finally reached home, with several groups making their way back through difficult and circuitous routes. Pune Pilgrim Recalls Fear Amid Communication Blackout Smita Pradeep Pawar, a Pune resident, was among four Maharashtra pilgrims…",
  "key_points": [
    "37 Maharashtra pilgrims stranded in Nepal return home safely",
    "Landslides and communication breakdowns caused ordeal",
    "Maharashtra Chief Minister's coordination ensured safe journey"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The safe return of stranded Maharashtra pilgrims from Nepal highlights the crucial role of coordinated government efforts in mitigating the impact of natural disasters and communication breakdowns on travelers.",
  "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."
}