Nepalis returning home from India stranded at border for three days

1 April Ranjha : As many as 163 migrant workers returning home from India following the lockdown have been stranded at border for three days. They are stranded at the border near Jayaspur of Nepalgunj sub-metropolis-16 and waiting desperately for rescue.

They were stranded after both Nepal and India enforced lockdown to prevent and contain coronavirus and closed the Jamunaha border point. Deputy mayor at Nepalgunj sub-metropolis, Uma Thapamagar, who had managed foods for them on Tuesday, said she could not assist them to enter though she wanted to.

She informed that those among the stranded are 27 from Banke, 14 from Bardiya, 31 from Dang, 9 from Salyan, 15 from Jumla, 7 from Surkhet, 3 from Dolpa, 5 from Achham, 2 from Pyuthan, 13 from Rolpa and others. Similarly, Chief District Officer of Banke, Kumar Bahadur Khadka, said none was permitted to come and go via Nepal-India border.

“They have been provided foods and shelter in border area. They stay in quarantine there. Those entered Nepal in an illegal manner are provided quarantine and foods here,” he made it clear. The district administration has not allowed them entering Nepal citing Home Ministry’s diktat.

Meanwhile, 219 persons have been kept in quarantines set up by various local levels in Banke district. All eight local levels have set up quarantines. The ones in quarantine are also kept in close observation, said Dhirjung Saha, Chief of District Health Office.