India, Sept. 2 -- The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the Union and the Tamil Nadu government to "file status reports on the steps taken to trace 85 people from the State who remain unreachable" following the floods in Nepal.

A bench of 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 PIL sought directions to the authorities to establish the whereabouts of pilgrims from Tamil Nadu affected by the disaster and ensure their rescue and safe return.

Former Madras High Court judge justice V Sivagnanam is among the Tamil Nadu pilgrims reported to be untraceable after the floods. He has not been reachable sinc...