West Bengal govt writing to Centre to rescue citizens from Afghanistan

KOLKATA: The Bengal government will shortly write to the external affairs ministry (MEA) with a list of the state’s citizens stuck in Afghanistan, so that they can be evacuated.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said a little over 200 people from Darjeeling, Terai and the Dooars were stranded in Kabul. “I have asked the chief secretary to write to the MEA to ensure their safe return.A little over 200 people are stuck in Afghanistan,” she said.
A few dozen more from North 24 Parganas and Nadia are stranded there as well, it was learnt.
“We have asked DMs to give names of people working in the country. We are talking to MEA officials to get updates of those who are stranded there,” said a Nabanna official. While 97 workers from north Bengal have so far been evacuated, the others are held up in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan. These workers, many of whom have been in Afghanistan for years, have even taken to social networking platforms to send out desperate messages for help. In a video message accessed by TOI, a group of Indian workers, mainly from north Bengal, have pleaded for rescue.
“We are nearly 140 men stranded in Kabul now. We appeal to the Indian government to take us out from this city as soon as possible. We don’t have any provision for food or drink. Neither do we have any access to banks,” the person said in a message.
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said he was “constantly” in touch with many of them. “The condition there is very grave. There are between 150 and 200 workers who are stranded in Kabul now. They are mainly from areas like Darjeeling, Kalimpong and the Dooars. In one camp alone, there are nearly 150 such workers. I am in touch with the Prime Minister’s Office and the MEA,” he added.
“There are several private companies where Indian people have been working for long. We are connecting their family members to government officials and lawmakers,” said Upendra M Pradhan, a social activist from Darjeeling.
Bandana Rai Thapa, whose husband had been working at a private company in Kabul and was rescued on Monday, is happy. “I had a word with him once he reached Dubai. I heard that nearly 40 people working in my husband’s company — many of whom are from Darjeeling — were rescued on Monday. It was such a big relief for us. My husband has been telling me that there are a lot of companies in Afghanistan, where a number of people from north Bengal work. When the Taliban stormed the city, they robbed many. Some Indians lost their passports when the Taliban attacked them. I heard that there are many who are still stranded there. Their family members are in distress.”