Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru/Hubballi
Bengaluru/Hubballi, Sept 10: As political unrest and violent protests sweep across Nepal, the Karnataka government has stepped in to rescue its citizens stranded in the crisis-hit country—ranging from terrified tourists in Kathmandu to a grieving family that had to perform a pilgrim’s last rites under extreme distress.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed the immediate formation of a special team, led by chief secretary Dr Shalini Rajneesh, to coordinate the evacuation of 39 Kannadigas, many of whom are stuck at Kathmandu Airport and other locations across Nepal. The decision comes amid a worsening law and order situation, curfews imposed by the Nepalese Army, and flight disruptions.
Acting swiftly, Dr Rajneesh held high-level meetings with concerned officials and initiated coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs and the resident commissioner at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi.
“All the Kannadigas in Nepal are currently safe,” a statement from the chief minister’s Office confirmed. “Our officials are in continuous contact with the stranded groups and necessary steps are underway to bring them back.”
Among the stranded are 27 tourists from Anekal and nearby areas, who had travelled through a private tour operator and were scheduled to return to India on Saturday. Their return was thwarted by the sudden enforcement of curfew and the deteriorating security situation in Kathmandu.
“There is fire in four places near our building. We are terrified and unable to step out,” said one of the stranded tourists, describing the panic and helplessness faced by many Indian nationals.
Adding to the growing distress is the case of six Kannadigas from a 36-member Manasarovar pilgrimage group, who are stranded in Kathmandu after the sudden death of N B Joshi (70), a Hubballi resident, on September 8. Joshi suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after taking a holy dip in the sacred lake, cutting short their spiritual journey that was scheduled to run from September 1 to 14.
The family endured a harrowing 30-hour journey by ambulance while transporting the mortal remains across the Chinese-Nepalese border and through protest-hit roads.
“There is utter chaos across Nepal,” said Satish Kulkarni, Joshi’s relative, speaking from Kathmandu. “On humanitarian grounds, the Chinese authorities allowed us to travel via road into Nepal. However, we faced hardship throughout the journey due to blockades and hostility from protesters.”
With no clarity on when air travel would resume and the civil administration in Nepal crumbling, the family made the heart-wrenching decision to perform Joshi’s final rites at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on Tuesday night.
Kulkarni acknowledged that union minister Pralhad Joshi, who represents Dharwad, and officials from the Indian Embassy in Nepal, had extended support, but said ground realities had rendered evacuation efforts extremely difficult.
“There is simply no authority in charge here. With the protests escalating, help is hard to come by,” he added.
The bereaved family and other pilgrims are currently staying at a hotel in Kathmandu and have appealed to the Karnataka government for assistance in returning to India.
Meanwhile, home minister G Parameshwara and Bengaluru City police commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh are directly involved in liaising with central agencies and diplomatic officials to expedite the safe evacuation of all stranded citizens.
The unrest in Nepal has deepened in recent days, with the army enforcing a strict curfew in Kathmandu and ordering residents and tourists to remain indoors until 6 am the following day. Hotels and lodges have been instructed to seal their premises, and security has been tightened near Hindu temples, including Pashupatinath.
Reports also indicate that several other groups from Karnataka are stuck in remote regions of Nepal, and the actual number of those in need of evacuation may be higher.
The Karnataka government’s swift and coordinated action has brought a measure of hope to worried families back home, many of whom have been anxiously awaiting word from loved ones stranded in a nation caught in spiralling political instability.