LALITPUR, April 18: A group of 47 people have been stranded in Lubhu, Lalitpur as they were trying to return homes to Sindhuli by foot from the Valley on the 26th day of the ongoing nationwide lockdown.

When the laborers found it hard to survive the lockdown, they decided to set out to their hometown, along with their families. However, they were stopped by the police in Lubhu, Lalitpur.

“It is very difficult for us to stay here as all construction works have been halted,” said Hira Nepali who was carrying her 6-month-old baby. “Nobody cares about us—neither our contractor nor the government,” she lamented.

They couldn’t receive adequate relief packages so that they had no other option but to head out home. 

Although the families have been restricted by the police to walk home, they are all committed not to return to the Valley until the situation is normal. “We’d rather walk for days or weeks, but won’t stay here unless we are provided adequate food.”

Most of them were working at various construction sites in Kalanki and Harisiddhi area.

Meanwhile, police have been coordinating with the local administration to arrange vehicles to send them back to their villages.

These are moving photos taken by our photojournalist Bijaya Rai on Saturday. 

 
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