Amaravati, Sep 10 (NationPress) Twenty-two Telugu individuals who were trapped in Nepal during the ongoing turmoil have returned safely to India through Bihar on Wednesday. Meanwhile, 195 more will be airlifted tomorrow, September 11.

Andhra Pradesh's Minister for Real-Time Governance, Nara Lokesh, announced on Wednesday night that the rescue of 22 individuals has been successful, and efforts are ongoing to ensure the remaining individuals are safely brought back.

An IndiGo flight with a capacity of 218 seats is on standby in Delhi and will head to Kathmandu on Thursday, pending necessary clearances. The flight is expected to take off in the afternoon.

Passengers will be escorted to the airport with security provided by the Nepal Army.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has been actively collaborating with the Government of India, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, and local Nepalese authorities to orchestrate the evacuation of stranded citizens. An official statement indicates that a detailed plan has been established, supported by both the Indian government and local agencies in Nepal.

Authorities have identified a total of 217 citizens from Andhra Pradesh throughout Nepal, all of whom are in regular communication with officials. Of this number, 173 are located in Kathmandu, 22 in Hetauda, 10 in Pokhara, and 12 in Simikot, near the Nepal-China border.

Among the stranded individuals, 118 (approximately 55%) are women, while 98 (45%) are men. Notably, around 70% of the group are over 50 years of age, with 31% exceeding 60 years. The largest contingents are from Visakhapatnam (42), Vizianagaram (34), and Kurnool (22), with the rest distributed across 22 districts.

Communication with the stranded citizens indicates that the situation has improved after the Nepal Army took charge. A curfew is currently in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday, after which movements will be allowed.

Citizens in Kathmandu are accommodated in hotels situated between 1 km and 4.5 km from the international airport.

Additionally, twelve citizens stranded in Simikot will be transported by a Nepalese airline to Nepalgunj on the Uttar Pradesh border on Thursday morning, with helicopters on standby in case the scheduled flight is canceled.

For those in Pokhara, plans are underway to arrange a 14-seater charter flight to Nepalgunj, contingent upon clearance from the Nepalese Air Force, followed by road transport to Lucknow.

According to officials, 22 citizens stranded in Hetauda have commenced their road journey towards Raxaul (Bihar border), with local authorities in Motihari, Bihar, briefed to assist with immigration. AP Bhawan in New Delhi is coordinating further movement back to Andhra Pradesh.

The Andhra Pradesh government assures all families that every possible effort is being made to safely evacuate and return all 217 stranded citizens. Dedicated teams are in continuous communication with the Indian Embassy, the Government of India, and local officials in Nepal and Bihar to ensure a seamless evacuation process.