A total of 106 tourists from Maharashtra who were stranded in flood-hit areas of Nepal have returned to India following state-led rescue and evacuation efforts, while another 84 are expected to reach the country on Saturday.
The tourists were stranded after flash floods triggered by sudden glacier and ice-rock collapses along the Nepal-China border disrupted road and other transport links in several areas.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a video conference with several of the returning tourists to take stock of their condition. The tourists thanked the Maharashtra government and the Chief Minister’s Office for their prompt coordination and intervention.
Fadnavis said the rescue efforts were facilitated by the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, which helped ensure diplomatic coordination and relief assistance on the ground.
State authorities are tracking and facilitating the movement of tourists from several Maharashtra districts, including Raigad, Ahilyanagar, Nashik, Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur.
All 106 tourists from Nagpur have been accounted for and are safe. Four were flown directly to New Delhi, while the remaining 102 travelled by bus to Patna in Bihar. After an overnight stay in Patna, the group boarded a train for Nagpur at 7 am on Saturday.
A 45-member tour group organised by Sangamner-based operator Darshan Gunjal, comprising 27 people from Ahilyanagar, 12 from Nashik, five from Pune and one from Mumbai, reached safety in Chitwan, Nepal.
With roads to Kathmandu blocked at several locations, the group took an alternative route through Lumbini and is expected to enter India via Ayodhya on Saturday.
A 37-member pilgrimage group organised by the Jai Girnari Shivdutta Mandir Trust in Raigad reached Saga in China. Accompanied by two doctors, all members are reported to be in good health. The group used alternative mountain routes to reach Kathmandu Airport and is scheduled to board a flight to India on Saturday.
The State Disaster Management Department is continuing ground-level efforts to facilitate the return of 11 Nashik tourists currently in Kathmandu.
In view of the flooding, the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) has set up a 24-hour war room at the state secretariat in Mumbai.
Citizens seeking urgent information or reporting stranded relatives can contact the toll-free helpline at 1070.
District Collectors have also been directed to collect real-time information through digital geotagging from urban and rural local bodies.
Affected citizens and their families have been advised to provide accurate location details through the specialised assistance portal.
State authorities are continuing to monitor developments in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and local Nepalese administrations to ensure the safe return of all remaining Maharashtra citizens.
(IANS Inputs)
