An IndiGo flight carrying 144 stranded citizens of Andhra Pradesh successfully departed from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, marking a major milestone in the Andhra Pradesh Government’s rescue mission.
The flight, which had earlier reached Kathmandu from Delhi, has reached Visakhapatnam and later Tirupati with the remaining passengers, on Thursday night. Out of the 144 passengers that boarded the flight, 104 passengers are bound to Visakhapatnam and the remaining 40 passengers will be travelling upto Tirupati.
This rescue operation comes as a relief to tourists and pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh who were stranded in the strife-ridden nation. The efforts were spearheaded by Minister for Education & IT, Nara Lokesh, who has been actively monitoring the situation from the moment the crisis unfolded.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said that the rescue of Telugu people stranded in Nepal has been successfully completed. He said that he is happy to know that they have been reunited with their families safely. He thanked the Central Government for providing prompt assistance in this regard.
He appreciated the efforts of the team led by Nara Lokesh, including Anita and Durgesh, in coordinating the AP Bhavan as the RTGS center. He said that their tireless efforts and prompt response in ensuring the safe return of our people are commendable.
Lokesh personally coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs, officials of border states, AP Bhavan in New Delhi, and ground teams to ensure the safe evacuation of all citizens.“ Special thanks go to the officials at the AP Bhavan in Delhi, who successfully coordinated the rescue mission,” he noted.
Earlier in the day, Lokesh held a detailed review meeting at the AP Secretariat (RTGS) along with Ministers Smt. Vangalapudi Anitha, Kandula Durgesh, and Kondapalli Srinivas, to oversee the rescue arrangements.
He directed that local MLAs and public representatives extend a warm welcome to the returnees at airports, including Visakhapatnam and Tirupati, and ensure safe onward travel to their respective hometowns.
With the successful take-off of this flight, the Andhra Pradesh Government reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the welfare of its people, wherever they may be.