Thiruvananthapuram: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday expressed deep distress over the death of eight eight Indian tourists, all from Kerala, in Nepal. They died after falling unconscious in their hotel room in the hill tourist destination of Daman in Makwanpur district.
The likely cause is the use of kerosene heaters to keep warm, which resulted in carbon monoxide filling up the room and inducing a state of unconsciousness due to a lack of oxygen.
Daman is a popular tourist spot about 80 km from Kathmandu and located 2,300 m above sea level.
The India mission was informed in the morning about the tourists being found in an unconscious state after which it contacted the others in the group and their families in India. The eight were airlifted to Kathmandu for urgent medical help, but none survived. A doctor from the mission was also rushed to the Kathmandu hospital simultaneously to check on the patients.
"Deeply distressed by tragic news of passing away of 8 Indian tourists in Nepal. Our Embassy in Nepal has been closely following the situation. Embassy officials are stationed at the hospital & providing necessary assistance. Our thoughts are with bereaved families," Jaishankar said on Twitter. He is currently in Niger.
Jaishankar said embassy officials were stationed at the hospital and providing assistance. The mission also reported back to New Delhi that their doctor was also present to assist the group and families at the hospital. Some family members flew from India and Dubai to Kathmandu.
The Kerala government said it would take all steps to ensure that the mortal remains of the Keralite tourists, who died at a resort, are brought to the state as early as possible.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed "deep grief" over the incident, a release from the Chief Minister's Office said.
On the basis of the directions given by the Chief Minister, NORKA (Non Resident Keralite Affairs) officials have got in touch with the Indian Embassy in Nepal. The bodies are expected to be brought to the state tomorrow after post-mortem, the statement added.
The eight tourists, including four minor children, died on Tuesday after they fell unconscious due to a possible gas leak in their room at a resort in Nepal, according to a media report in that nation.
The deceased - two couples and four children - were part of a group of 15 people travelling from Kerala to Pokhara, a popular mountainous tourist destination.
(With inputs from PTI)
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