KATHMANDU: The Nepal government has rescued as many as 16,294 Nepali people stranded in 21 countries across the world due to COVID-19 as of Thursday.

The highest number of people among those rescued is from Bagmati Pradesh with 5,358 and the least number is from Sudurpashchim Pradesh with 394.

Similarly, the highest number of Nepali people rescued during the period is from Kuwait with 3,527 while the least number is from Sri Lanka with five, according to COVID-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC).

The Nepal government had imposed a lockdown banning all services except urgent ones since March 24 to stem coronavirus spread.

The rescue work to bring those stranded Nepali people began since June 3.