Madhav Dhungana & Manoj Paudel

More than 400 Nepali and Indian nationals who were kept in quarantine facilities returned to their respective countries through the Bhairahawa-Sunauli border point in Rupandehi and the Krishnanagar border point in Kapilvastu on Friday and Saturday.

As per the bilateral agreement of both the countries, the homebound Nepalis were quarantined in Indian territory while Indian nationals on their way home were kept in quarantine facilities in Nepal for the past three weeks. Authorities of both the nations allowed their citizens to return amid tight security and due health check ups.

“One hundred Nepali nationals quarantined in Nautanwa of India entered Nepal through the Sunauli border point on Friday evening and 196 Nepalis crossed the border on Saturday,” said Khadka Bahadur Khatri, the deputy superintendent of police in Rupandehi. According to him, most of the people returning home are from Arghakhanchi and Gulmi districts. 

The authorities in Nepal coordinated with the respective local units to manage transportation for the people returning home. Balkrishna Acharya, mayor of Malarani Municipality in Arghakhanchi, reached Bhairahawa with three buses on Saturday morning to take the people home. As many as 34 people were transported to Malarani on Friday evening as well. 

“The returnees will be kept in quarantine and will be tested for Covid-19,” said Acharya. 

Similarly, 52 Indian nationals who were kept in a quarantine facility near Dandapul in Rupandehi also returned homes. Government officials and people’s representatives of bordering Indian towns welcomed them at the border. The Indian side said its citizens would be kept in quarantine for two weeks before being allowed to go home.

In Kapilvastu, 35 Nepali nationals entered the country through the Krishnanagar border point on Saturday. Rajat Pratap Sah, mayor of Krishnanagar Municipality, welcomed the homebound Nepalis at the border point. Rapid diagnostic tests were conducted on all those who entered Nepal. 

“The results of all 35 people came out negative. We will send them home after coordinating with the respective local bodies,” said Sah, adding that the people entering Nepal on Saturday are from Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Dang and Jhapa districts. 

Likewise, Indian authorities also welcomed 36 Indian nationals who were kept in quarantine in Nepal. They had come to take a holy bath in Tribeni of Nawalparasi when they got stranded due to border seals.

Published on: 26 April 2020 | The Kathmandu Post