JAIPUR: Among the thousands of Indian tourists who remain stranded in Nepal following the violent agitation that broke out on September 8, are several families from Rajasthan.
They include the relatives of independent MLA from Bayana, Ritu Banawat, and former Udaipur councilor Anil Singhal.
On Wednesday, Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani confirmed that MLA Banawat and her family were stranded in Nepal. He said the state government is making every possible effort for their safe return and is in constant touch with the Indian Embassy.
“The evacuation process will begin as soon as the situation improves,” Devnani assured. Among those in serious trouble is former councillor Anil Singhal and his family, who were on a trip to Nepal along with 35 other tourists from Udaipur district.
Singhal said he had travelled from Udaipur to Kathmandu on September 5 to visit the Pashupatinath temple. His return flight to Delhi was scheduled for September 12, but all flights were then cancelled after the violence erupted. The sudden protests had left Singhal and his group stranded in a hotel in Pokhara, nearly 500 km from Kathmandu.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has expressed concern over the safety of Rajasthani citizens stranded in Nepal. He appealed to those affected to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy and make use of the helpline numbers.
The state government, he said, is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the Centre and the Indian Embassy.
To assist families back home, the Rajasthan Police has set up a special cell at Police Headquarters in Jaipur under the directions of Director General of Police Rajiv Sharma.
A 24x7 Helpline and WhatsApp number have been issued for immediate assistance. Superintendent of Police Govardhanlal Sokaria has been appointed as the in-charge of this cell, with three police officers deployed round the clock.
Helpline numbers: 0141-2740832, 0141-2741807
WhatsApp number: 97849-42702
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has also expressed concern over the Nepal situation. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he urged the state government to act proactively and ensure the safe return of all stranded passengers.
“The government should make arrangements to bring back those stranded and assure their families that the state is with them in this grave crisis. I also appeal to the Government of India to take urgent steps for their safe return,” Gehlot wrote. Meanwhile, domestic and international flights in Nepal remain suspended due to the ongoing unrest, forcing thousands of tourists to remain confined in hotels across various cities.
While the Rajasthan government and the Indian Embassy continue their efforts to ensure safe evacuation, the exact number of stranded Rajasthanis has yet to be confirmed.
According to reports, the figure could be close to 4,000.