NEPALGUNJ, March 25: As the government has locked down the country amid threat of a possible COVID-19 outbreak, Nepali nationals returning from India are stranded in Rupaidiha – a border region between Nepal and India.

While the number of COVID-19 cases is rising in India, the Nepali nationals, who had traveled to India for employment and medical treatment among others reasons, have been trying to enter Nepal even though the government has sealed the borders.

According to Sub Inspector Madhav Rijal, in-charge of Area Police Office, Jamunaha, at least 40 Nepalis are on the Indian side of the border. “They have been trying to enter Nepal. But we have stopped them as per the directive of the government,” said Rijal.

Meanwhile, the Nepali nationals stranded on the border region say that they are facing difficulties. “We have come to the border region with a hope to go home. But it hurts when our own government stops us,” they say. They also say that they have not eaten proper food for several hours as the restaurants and retail shops are closed on the Indian side of the border. The government had closed the border with India from Sunday. Even though the border was sealed, the District Administration Office, Banke, had rescued Nepali citizens stranded on the Indian side of the border on Monday.

A total of 540 Nepalis nationals were allowed to enter Nepal and sent ot quarantine facility at Mahendra Multiple Campus. They were taken to the quarantine facility by a bus of the Nepalgunj Sub Metropolitan City.

According to the local administration, they [resuced Nepali] will be placed in quarantine for some time. It has said that they will be sent home after health checkup.

However, more than half of the rescued escaped from the quarantine facility on Monday accusing chaotic conditions -- no toilet, no water and crammed conditions. 

According to Kumar Bahadur Khadka, chief district officer of Banke, no one has been allowed to enter Nepal from Rupaidiha border Tuesday. “The exact number of Nepali nationals on the border is still unknown,” CDO Khadka, told Republica, the local administration is not letting them enter Nepal.

 
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