Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana and his group of pilgrims, who were waiting at a guest house at Simikot in the Indo-Nepal border for the helicopters to ferry them to Katmandu, were airlifted to Nepalgunj this morning.

 

They will be flown to Katmandu when the weather turns favourable for flying but their arrival at Katmandu may still be delayed as the runway at Katmandu international airport was heavily damaged due to incessant rains for the last few days and authorities had closed the airport temporarily.

 

Even if the weather is favourable for their airlifting, they can’t be flown to Katmandu until the runway is fully repaired and put to use again.