Shah sets out for Mahakali-Mechi cycle tour to commemorate COVID-19 victims

Published On: August 2, 2021 01:12 PM NPT By: Republica

NEPALGUNJ, August 2: Social activist Tej Bikram Shah of Nepalgunj has set out for Mahakali-Mechi cycle tour to pay tribute to those who succumbed to COVID-19.

Cyclist Shah said he started his journey as a tribute to the family and relatives of the people who died of COVID-19.“I was also tested positive for COVID-19 and the city where I live was the hotspot for the virus during the second wave of COVID-19. I witnessed families devastated by the loss of family members and have lost many friends to the virus as well. The sadness which follows after the loss of someone you know is immense. This made me start this journey to help them alleviate their pain,” Shah said.

Shah said the COVID-19 pandemic, which has spread across the world, has taken countless lives and the family members of those deceased have to undergo the pain of loss every day. “The cycle journey which started from Dodhara Chandani in the West will end at the border of Mechi in the east,” he said. The journey from Mahakali to Mechi will be completed in 11 days.

Earlier, Shah had successfully completed his cycle journey from Nepalgunj to Dodhara Chandani in Mahakali. The 56-year-old cyclist is actively involved in social service and politics. He also plans to meet concerned authorities at various places during his journey and express his condolences to the families of COVID-19 victims. Shah said that he was encouraged by his well-wishers when he started his solo cycling journey from Mahakali to Mechi.

The solo journey of Shah has also encouraged many cycle riders, Gagan Singh Thapa, Chairman of Nepalgunj Cycle Club said. “Shah started his cycling journey at the age of 53.

This has encouraged cyclists like us to pursue our own journeys,” Thapa said.

Mayor of Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City, Dr Dhawal Samsher Rana, Deputy Mayor Uma Thapa Magar, Chairman of Khajura Rural Municipality Kismat Kumar Kachapati, Dr Kumarsan Shah and others have wished success for Shah on his journey from Mahakali to Mechi.