80 Maharashtra Tourists Stranded in Nepal
The officials stated that 57 of the stranded individuals were travelling with Richa Tours Pvt. Ltd. The state government is maintaining coordination with travel agencies and families of those stranded to facilitate aid and ensure necessary support.
Mumbai: Maharashtra is one of major affected states from India in the Nepal floods with more than 80 of its residents believed to be stranded in the Himalayan nation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the state government is working with the central government to rescue tourists from Maharashtra who are stranded in Nepal.
“The state government is on alert mode after major floods and heavy rains hit Nepal and the Tibet border areas. Discussions are underway with the central government and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to bring stranded citizens back safely. State Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan is closely tracking the situation and keeping in touch with affected families,” Fadnavis added.
The Maharashtra government has made the toll-free helpline (1070) and the State Control Room number (022-69107600 or +91-9321587143) available to Maharashtra residents stranded in Nepal. They can also email controlroom@maharashtra.gov.in to seek information.
A control room has been activated at Mantralaya, the State Secretariat, which is operating 24 hours to ensure citizens receive immediate assistance. Based on information received from citizens and their families, the authorities are co-ordinating with the concerned agencies and taking the necessary action, said state officials.
Additionally, a special link, https://geospatial.mahaseoc.in/Sahayata_gulf/, has been set up for online registration, where details of the people who are still stuck in Nepal or are missing.
The officials stated that 57 of the stranded individuals were travelling with Richa Tours Pvt. Ltd. The state government is maintaining coordination with travel agencies and families of those stranded to facilitate aid and ensure necessary support.
“Of the 80 people from Maharashtra who are in Nepal, we have so far been able to contact four people from Jalgaon. They are safe and have informed us that more than 37 others with them are also safe. We are trying to establish contact with the remaining people,” said Girish Mahajan, Maharashtra’s Disaster Management Minister.
The government has instructed the concerned authorities to maintain continuous co-ordination and extend all necessary assistance to the stranded tourists. The Maharashtra Tourism Department, the Disaster Management Department, and the respective district administrations are working in close coordination to ensure that Maharashtra residents receive timely assistance during emergencies abroad.
“The Maharashtra government is making every possible effort to ensure the safety of tourists from the state who are stranded in Nepal amid the severe situation caused by flash floods. Seven tourists from Maharashtra are currently stranded in Nepal. Authorities have managed to establish contact with four of them, two each from Mumbai and Pune, and confirmed that all four are safe. Efforts are underway to establish contact with the remaining three tourists,” said Minister of Tourism, Shambhuraj Desai.
As many as 1,500 people, including 300 Indians, are missing across Nepal and Tibet, as a wall of mud and rock collapsed into the Bhote Koshi river in Rasuwa district, triggering catastrophic flash floods through towns and valleys.
Meanwhile, all 110 citizens from Nagpur district who traveled to Nepal with the Shri Swami Maharaj group will return safely from Kathmandu to Danapur in Bihar on Friday. According to the State Disaster Management Department, the group had gone to Kathmandu on August 22 for a tourism and religious visit. It consists primarily senior citizens.
The State Disaster Management Department confirmed that the severe flood situation in Nepal has not impacted any members of this group. “Instead of their originally planned buses, alternative bus arrangements have been made with the assistance of the Nepal administration for their return journey. Accordingly, these citizens departed from Kathmandu and are scheduled to reach Janakpur by early morning on August 28. From Janakpur, they proceed to Patna and travel by a special train to Nagpur,” an official said.
