<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br />''<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">''<div>In Nepal, 336 Indian pilgrims returning from Kailash Mansarovar Yatra have been evacuated from Simikot today. The stranded pilgrims were airlifted from Simikot to Surkhet by 17 flights and 3 sorties of Nepal Army chopper arranged by the Embassy of India. </div>''<div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />''</span>Later these pilgrims were sent to Nepalgunj by the buses. The Embassy also operated 50 sorties of helicopters between Hilsa and Simikot and evacuated 250 people . Nearly 500 stranded pilgrims have been evacuated from Simikot since Tuesday. Over 1000 pilgrims are still stranded in Simikot, Hilsa and Tibet side.</div>''<div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />''</span>The Indian Embassy has said that situation is under control and there is no need to panic. The Mission has also said that only one death of stranded pilgrim has been reported from Simikot and Hilsa so far. The Embassy is closely monitoring the situation and taking all possible steps to evacuate all Indians and Indian-origin people. </div>''<div><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />''</span>The Mission is also exploring possibility of hiring chartered helicopters and operating them on various evacuation routes subject to weather conditions and willingness and ability of carrier to fly on these routes. </div></div></div>