The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Central and Tamil Nadu governments to file status reports on the steps taken to trace 85 people from the State who remain unreachable following the devastating floods in Nepal. .A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan passed the order on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by advocate AF Parvesh Mushraf.The plea sought directions to the authorities to establish the whereabouts of every pilgrim from Tamil Nadu affected by the disaster and ensure their rescue and safe return.Former Madras High Court Justice V Sivagnanam is among the Tamil Nadu pilgrims reported to be untraceable following the floods. He has not been reachable since August 26, when he last spoke to his wife.It was not clarified during Wednesday’s hearing whether he was part of the 85 unreachable persons..The Court was informed that 305 people from Tamil Nadu had travelled to Nepal, largely for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Of these, 220 had been traced and confirmed to be safe. The remaining 85 continue to be unreachable.The Tamil Nadu government submitted that it has taken all possible steps, in coordination with the Central government and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu to locate the missing pilgrims and bring them home safely.It added that the families of those who remained unreachable have been offered travel and other assistance to visit Kathmandu at government expense..The Bench directed the State to place on record a formal status report detailing the steps already taken as well as the rescue operations presently underway. The Central government was also permitted to file its response. The matter will be heard again after eight days.During the hearing, the State furnished details of the rescue and repatriation measures undertaken so far. It said 21 of the 57 pilgrims who travelled through Kumbakonam-based Super Yatra were safely rescued and brought back.Officials from Tamil Nadu House are stationed in Kathmandu and are coordinating with the Indian Embassy, Nepalese authorities and relatives of the pilgrims, the Court was told.The State further said that several groups of pilgrims reached New Delhi and subsequently returned to their native places. Food, refreshments and air tickets were provided to the rescued persons at government expense..However, contact has not been established with 49 people who had travelled through Chennai-based Mahadev Kailash Yatra. Efforts to locate them through the Indian Embassy are continuing, the State said
