Vande Bharat Mission: 350 stranded Indians return from Nepal to Bihar

MOTIHARI: Under Vande Bharat Mission of government of India, 350 migrant workers, pilgrims and tourists, who were stuck in different places in Nepal due to lockdown imposed in both countries amid the rising cases of Covid-19 returned to Indian territory on Tuesday through Integrated Checkpost at Raxaul in East Champaran district.
They were welcomed by officials of immigration, administration and SSB.
Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Raxaul Amit Kumar said total 650 Indians were slated to enter Raxaul via Birgunj in Nepal by Tuesday night.
East Champaran district magistrate Shirshat Kapil Ashok said the first batch of 350 Indian returnees were from different districts in Bihar and they were being provided buses by administration to reach their respective native places.
“All the DMs concerned have been informed to put the returnees from Nepal under institutional quarantine as per guidelines of ministry of home affairs. The second batch of Indians will reach Raxaul on Wednesday. The district administration has made ample arrangement for screening, medical checkup, sanitizer, food and drinking water among other basic amenities for the returnees Indian from Nepal at Integrated check post at Raxaul,” the DM said.
B Suresh Kumar, officer- in- charge of Counsalte General of India at Birgunj, Immigration officer Ajay Kumar Pankaj and SSB commandant Raj Kumar Kumawat are supervising and monitoring the arrival of Indians at Raxaul.
Meanwhile, 400 Nepalese are stranded and quarantined in Indian side near Indo-Nepal border at Raxaul from last two months. Raxaul SDM Amit Kumar said they are being provided free food ,medicines and other necessary facilities by district administration.
“The Nepal government denied their entry in Nepal and advised them to get quarantined at Raxaul. Pradeep Yadav, MP of Parsa district of Nepal had visited the quarantine centre at Raxaul in last week and met Nepali people and expressed satisfaction over better facilities given to Neplese by Bihar government. He said that efforts are being made to bring back them home in Nepal soon,” Raxaul SDM said.