Rescue of stranded Nepalis to begin from Bangladesh today

KATHMANDU: The government has begun the work of rescuing its nationals stranded in various countries due to Coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown.

The state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation and private Himalayan Airlines aircraft are being used to bring back the Nepalis home. Accordingly, NAC aircraft will bring Nepalis from Dhaka of Bangladesh this afternoon.

It may be noted that the government has decided to rescue some 30,000 Nepalis in the first phased in chartered flights. So far, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has approved 24 flights of NAC and 19 flights of Himalayan airlines.

The NAC aircraft will fly to Bangladesh, the Maldives, Malaysia, Qatar, Australia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Kuwait, Korea, Oman and Bahrain while Himalayan Airlines will bring Nepalis from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and other countries.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has in response to widespread complaints, reviewed the airfare in consultation with the two airlines company. Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai held talks with the representatives of the two airlines companies on Saturday, which led to a decision to review the ticket price. Up to 20 per cent reduction has been made, says a statement issued by the Ministry.