People from Karnataka stranded in Nepal returning in batches

An Indian army helicopter is parked on the tarmac of the Kathmandu international airport the day after a massive earthquake devastated the region, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, April 26, 2015. (Source: AP)

People from Karnataka stranded in Nepal that was rocked by a massive earthquake are returning to India in batches through road and special Indian Air Force flights, state government officials said.

A batch of 82 people belonging to Karnataka has reached Delhi in an IAF aircraft, the Secretary, Disaster Management said in a release. Their return to Karnataka is being facilitated by Karnataka Bhavan in Delhi, he added.

Officials said 35 people from Haralahalli in Mandya District are on their way to Gorakpur and added that another batch of 30 people from Belagavi are also on their way to the Indian border.

Meanwhile a Mengalaru report said a nine-member group of tourists from different parts of Dakshina Kannada District in Karnataka, on a visit to Pokhara in Nepal, were safe.

The travel agency which had arranged the trip, on Sunday said it had received a call from the guide accompanying the tourists stating that they were safe and would return to Delhi within two days.

The group had left for Nepal from Mangaluru a few days ago on the trip arranged by the agency. Karnataka Government had on Saturday deputed IGP Northern Range Umesh Kumar and senior IAS officer Pankaj Kumar Pandey to go to Nepal to ensure safe evacuation of people from the state.

Source:: Indian Express