VIJAYWADA: Amid the unrest in Nepal, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Real Time Governance, Nara Lokesh, has taken charge of coordinating rescue operations for Telugu citizens stranded across various regions of the neighboring country.
Lokesh suspended his Ananthapuram visit on Wednesday and rushed to the Real Time Governance (RTG) Center at the State Secretariat.
He held a review meeting with senior officials to take stock of the rescue operations. AP Bhavan authorities briefed Lokesh on the ground situation in Nepal, informing him that as many as 261 Telugu citizens have been reported stranded so far.
Taking serious note of the situation, Minister Lokesh directed officials to initiate measures on a war footing to ensure the safe return of those trapped. He instructed that immediate relief be extended, stranded people shifted to safer locations, and regular updates provided. “Updates on their safety and well-being must be collected every two hours,” the minister told officials during the meeting.
Within hours of Lokesh’s review, the government identified the locations and coordinates of over 212 Telugu citizens stranded in Nepal. Chief Secretary K Vijayanand discussed the welfare of citizens stranded in various regions of Nepal with officials and reviewed arrangements for their safe return.
The stranded individuals include families and individuals from Kadapa, Nandyala, Madanapalle, Tirupati, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Guntur, and Kurnool. The state government has made arrangements on a war-footing basis to deploy a 220-seat aircraft to bring AP citizens back to Visakhapatnam.
Lokesh instructed officials to compile a district-wise delta of their details to ensure safe transportation to their respective districts after reaching Andhra Pradesh. The AP government is holding continuous discussions with the Nepal Embassy and the MEA to coordinate relief efforts. Officials are also in contact with AP Bhavan in Delhi to oversee coordination. Senior officials, including Mukesh Kumar Meena, Kumar Vishwajit, CCLA Jaya Lakshmi, and Secretary K. Shashidhar, participated in the review.
Lokesh also interacted via video call with some of the stranded citizens, including Surya Prabha, who briefed him on the present situation in Muktinath, where several Telugu pilgrims are stuck in a hotel. Minister Nara Lokesh assured that the state government, in close coordination with the central government, is committed to bringing all Telugu citizens back home safely.
- The Andhra Pradesh government has confirmed that 261 Telugu citizens remain stranded in Nepal as of the afternoon of Sept 10.
- Officials from AP Bhavan have spoken to all of them and assured that they will soon be brought back home.
- The AP Bhavan officials explained that the state government has initiated all possible measures to ensure their safety and well-being.
- Minister Nara Lokesh personally spoke with eight groups of Telugus stranded at various locations in Nepal.
- The groups consisted of a total of 241 people, and he assured them that the rescue operation starting tomorrow will evacuate all of them.
- Lokesh assured them of all help and their safety.
- With the Kathmandu runway closed until 6 pm Wednesday, rescue operations could not commence immediately.
- However, Indian rescue aircraft are scheduled to begin evacuations from Thursday morning, ensuring the safe return of those stranded.
Samdani MN is Editor (Politics-Andhra Pradesh), at the Times of I...
Read MoreSamdani MN is Editor (Politics-Andhra Pradesh), at the Times of India-Vijayawada. He covers political affairs in the state with a special focus on TDP, YSRCP and BJP. He has authority over irrigation, revenue, energy, excise, inter-state affairs, education, health, tourism and industries. He holds a postgraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and a degree in Law.
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