As many as 370 Indian pilgrims, who were returning from Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet and waiting for their flights in Humla, were airlifted to Nepalgunj on Thursday.

Scores of Indian pilgrims had been awaiting for flights at Hilsa, the border point between Nepal and China, and Simikot, the district headquarters of Humla, for the past few days as the flights were disrupted due to the inclement weather conditions in the area. According to Janak Shahi, a local who has been coordinating rescue of the stranded pilgrims, 370 Indian pilgrims were airlifted to Nepalgunj on Thursday.

On Wednesday, 202 pilgrims were airlifted to Simikot from Hilsa, while 277 pilgrims later landed in Nepalgunj and Surkhet.

Shahi said two MI-17 helicopters of Nepal Army and Shree Air and other aircraft on regular service made 56 flights from Hilsa to Simikot and 27 flights from Simikot to Nepalgunj on Thursday to take the pilgrims to their destinations.  

The period between May and September is considered suitable for the pilgrims to visit Kailash Mansarovar situated at 5,950 metres above sea level. Hundreds of Indian pilgrims had been caught in bad weather since Saturday. Altitude sickness has become a major concern for those waiting for their flights. Eight pilgrims have died of altitude-related illness this year.