Stranded Tourists Reach India

SRIKAKULAM/ELURU:The 47 pilgrims from Srikakulam and West Godavari districts, who were stranded in Nepal after a massive earthquake of 7.9-magnitude on the Richter scale Saturday shook the nation, reached India safely on Sunday afternoon. They will arrive in their native villages soon.

Meanwhile, mild tremors were felt in Srikakulam district on the second consecutive day, triggering panic among the denizens.

It may be recalled that 36 people from Palakol and Narsapur areas of West Godavari district and 11 from Srikakulam district went on a trip to Nepal on April 5 to visit Manakamana Temple, Gorakhpur Temple and a few other pilgrim centres.

However, they all suffered minor injuries and were stranded when the monster earthquake flattened Nepal and had its impact in India, too, on Saturday.

When the last reports came in, the pilgrims crossed the Nepal border and entered India by a bus.

One of the tourists, A Janakamma told Express over phone that they were having meals at a hotel when the earthquake occurred. “All of a sudden, we felt tremors and immediately ran out of the hotel to safety. Though we sustained minor bruises, we are all safe,” she recalled.

Meanwhile, Srikakulam district revenue officer BHS Venkat Rao said that they had been in touch with the higher officials, who would soon make arrangements to transport the tourists from Delhi to their native villages.

He also announced that all the tourists  from various part of the State were safe.