670 Nepali stranded in Chinese territory beyond Kerung rescued alive

Sindhupalchowk: A total of 670 Nepali citizens who were stranded at China’s Kerung border due to floods in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa have been rescued alive.

The Armed Police Force of Nepal stated that they were brought back to the country through the Tatopani border in Sindhupalchok. The Nepalis had entered Kerung for various purposes such as business, tourism, and visits, but were stranded there with the flood in Bhotekoshi on August 26.

With special support from the Chinese government and direct facilitation and coordination from the Armed Police Force of Nepal at the border area, the rescued Nepalis were safely sent to Kathmandu.

After the surface route was blocked, Nepalis stranded on the China side were allowed to enter Nepal through the Tatopani border in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality–2 starting from September 3.

According to the Armed Police Force, 114 people returned Nepal on September 3; 155 on September 4; 96 on September 5; 105 on September 6; 106 on September 7, and 94 on September 8. In order to ensure the safe rescue and movement of citizens in the border area, a 15-mmeber special team under the command of APF’s DIG Bhupa Bahadur Budhathoki from the Tatopani Border Outpost is continuously being mobilized.

APF spokesperson Netra Bahadur Karki informed that coordination and facilitation are underway for the safe rescue and return home of Nepali citizens stranded due to the disaster.

The APF said they have arranged vehicles in coordination with local level governments and various organizations to send them toward Kathmandu.

Spokesperson Karki shared that Sindhupalchok Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Araniko Transport Pvt. Ltd. have arranged passenger vehicles to take people to Kathmandu. According to Padma Raj Timalsina, Head of the Tatopani Immigration Office, Nepali citizens stuck in China are brought to the Liping area at the Tatopani border by the Chinese side with passport number details and handed over to Nepali officials.

Although the Tatopani customs is closed, the border is currently open for tourist movement. A large number of Nepali and foreign citizens were affected due to the flood in Rasuwa. The administration stated that the process of safely returning Nepali citizens stranded in China is ongoing after the flood.

‘We received information through our Chinese counterparts that there are about 1,700 Nepalis in Kerung,’ said Shashidhar Ghimire, Chief District Officer of Sindhupalchok. ‘They will be safely brought to Kathmandu via the Tatopani border.

The process of bringing them is ongoing.’ He added that the Chinese side has been safely bringing them to the Liping area at the Tatopani border and handing them over to the Nepali administration.

RSS