About 50 Karnataka travellers return from Nepal as 24 remain missing
About 50 Karnataka travellers return from Nepal as 24 remain missing
Around 50 Karnataka residents stranded by catastrophic flooding in Nepal and Tibet returned to Bengaluru, while searches continued for 24 people from the state.
The returning group included travellers from Haveri, Shivamogga and Bengaluru. They crossed into India through Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh and arrived at Kempegowda International Airport on August 29. Nelamangala resident Renuka Aradhya said the group had left on August 23 and described the safe return as a rebirth.
Twenty-three doctors from Bengaluru who travelled to Nepal were reported safe and returning from Kathmandu, with arrival expected by August 30. Mallinath Kolkundi, a 50-year-old pilgrim from Kalaburagi district who survived flooding near the Nepal-Tibet border, reached New Delhi and was expected home soon.
The Karnataka government said search and tracing operations continued for the 24 missing people and that it was co-ordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs and Karnataka Bhavan. The State Emergency Operations Centre remained open around the clock at 1070 and 080-22253707.
Infosys Public Services chief executive Lax Gopisetty, in Nepal privately, was among those unreachable. The company said it was working with authorities and supporting his family. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar spoke with stranded residents and directed officials to arrange accommodation for Karnataka travellers reaching New Delhi before their onward journeys.
E.Werner--SbgTB
