Kannadigas stranded in Nepal seek airlift; CM Shivakumar assures safe return
Synopsis
With landslides blocking the road and a 12-15-hour journey deemed too risky, Karnataka pilgrims stranded in Nepal have directly appealed to CM Shivakumar for an airlift — while 17 Kannadigas, including a senior Infosys executive, remain untraceable. The state government is racing against deteriorating conditions to account for all its citizens.
Key Takeaways
Kannadigas stranded in Nepal appealed to CM D.K.
Shivakumar for an emergency airlift on 29 August , citing landslide risk on the 12-15-hour road route.
The group had reached Darchan from the Kailash base and was headed to Nyalam for immigration clearance.
Shivakumar assured the pilgrims he would assess the airlift option and directed officials to arrange accommodation in Delhi for returnees.
17 Kannadigas , including Infosys Public Services CEO Lax Gopisetty , remained untraceable as of Saturday.
The Karnataka government is coordinating a round-the-clock effort to trace all missing and stranded citizens in Nepal.
Kannadigas stranded in Nepal on Saturday, 29 August appealed to Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to arrange an emergency airlift, citing active landslide risk and a gruelling 12-15-hour road journey that pilgrims described as life-threatening. Shivakumar, who held a video conference with the stranded group, assured them the state government would assess the situation and take all necessary steps to bring them home safely.
What the Stranded Pilgrims Said
The group, which includes women pilgrims who had travelled from Karnataka to Nepal for a religious journey, told the Chief Minister they had reached Darchan after departing from the Kailash base. Their next leg was to Nyalam, where immigration formalities were to be completed before crossing into Nepal — but that route has been rendered dangerous by repeated landslides.
'There are landslides on the route, and it is risky. The journey would take 12 to 15 hours. There is a possibility of landslides and also a chance of getting stuck. If we are airlifted from that place, it would help us,' a pilgrim told the Chief Minister during the video interaction.
CM Shivakumar's Response
Shivakumar urged the stranded pilgrims not to lose courage and committed to personally exploring the airlift option. 'I will talk about this, and I will certainly do it. You don't lose courage. I will analyse the situation and certainly initiate a step,' he said. He added: 'We are there for you. Don't worry. We are here for you. You have gone on a pilgrimage and got stuck. It's okay; we will take care.'
The Chief Minister also directed officials to arrange transit accommodation in Delhi for all Kannadigas arriving from Nepal before they travel onward to Bengaluru.
17 Kannadigas Still Unaccounted For
The crisis extends beyond those who have managed to make contact. As of Saturday, 17 people from Karnataka — including Infosys Public Services CEO Lax Gopisetty — remained untraceable following devastating floods and landslides that have disrupted communication and transportation across several parts of Nepal. The Karnataka government said it expected to release updated details of missing persons later in the day, as the locations of some individuals had been established while others remained unknown.
Shivakumar had earlier stated that the state government was making round-the-clock efforts to trace all stranded and unaccounted Kannadigas. 'We are tracing people... many are not tracked. Information about 17 persons needs to be obtained; it is not available,' he said.
Broader Relief Coordination
The Karnataka government is actively coordinating a multi-agency response to bring back its citizens stranded across Nepal amid conditions worsened by floods and landslides. The video of the Chief Minister's interaction with the pilgrims was released by the Chief Minister's Office. This comes amid a wider humanitarian strain in Nepal, where monsoon-driven disasters have repeatedly disrupted high-altitude pilgrimage routes in recent seasons. All eyes are now on whether an airlift can be operationalised swiftly — and whether the remaining 17 missing persons can be located before conditions deteriorate further.
Point of View
And state governments have limited direct leverage. Shivakumar's public assurance is politically necessary, but the operational path is far from straightforward. More troubling is the silence around the 17 unaccounted persons: with communication lines disrupted, the window to locate them is narrowing with every monsoon hour. The inclusion of a senior corporate figure like the Infosys Public Services CEO among the missing will likely accelerate pressure on both state and central agencies to act — but it also risks skewing attention toward high-profile cases at the expense of ordinary pilgrims who have no institutional advocates.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Kannadigas stranded in Nepal seeking an airlift?
Kannadigas stranded in Nepal are seeking an airlift because active landslides have made the road route back extremely dangerous, with the journey estimated to take 12-15 hours through high-risk terrain. Pilgrims told CM Shivakumar there is a real chance of getting stuck or caught in a landslide on the road.
What has Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar said about the situation?
CM Shivakumar held a video conference with the stranded pilgrims on 29 August and assured them the state government would assess the feasibility of an airlift. He also directed officials to arrange accommodation in Delhi for Kannadigas arriving from Nepal before they travel on to Bengaluru.
How many Kannadigas are missing or unaccounted for in Nepal?
As of Saturday, 29 August, 17 people from Karnataka remained untraceable in Nepal, including Infosys Public Services CEO Lax Gopisetty. The Karnataka government said the locations of some had been established, while others were still unknown.
Where exactly are the stranded pilgrims located in Nepal?
The stranded group had reached Darchan after departing from the Kailash base. They were scheduled to travel to Nyalam for immigration formalities before crossing into Nepal, but landslides have made that route dangerous.
What steps is the Karnataka government taking to help stranded citizens in Nepal?
The Karnataka government is coordinating a round-the-clock multi-agency effort to trace and repatriate stranded Kannadigas. CM Shivakumar has personally engaged with the pilgrims via video conference and is exploring an airlift option, while officials have been asked to arrange transit accommodation in Delhi for returnees.
