A special aircraft arranged by the state government reached Kathmandu and transported 144 passengers back to Andhra Pradesh. Of these, 104 landed in Visakhapatnam while another 40 disembarked in Tirupati

The Andhra Pradesh government’s swift action has ensured the safe return of scores of Telugu citizens stranded in Nepal amid ongoing unrest. Under the direct supervision of IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh, a command-and-control operation through the RTGS Centre in Amaravati coordinated with central agencies, Nepalese authorities, and AP Bhavan in Delhi to bring citizens back home.

For the second consecutive day, Lokesh held a review meeting at the RTGS Centre, joined by Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, Ministers Kandula Durgesh and Kondapalli Srinivas, and senior officials. He instructed officials to remain on high alert, track developments in real time, and ensure seamless arrangements for every returning citizen.

A special aircraft arranged by the state government reached Kathmandu and transported 144 passengers back to Andhra Pradesh. Of these, 104 landed in Visakhapatnam while another 40 disembarked in Tirupati. Lokesh directed MLAs and local representatives to personally welcome the evacuees at the airports and oversee their onward journey to their hometowns. Transportation and logistical support have been arranged at government expense.

Meanwhile, 22 citizens who travelled by bus from Hetauda crossed into India via the Bihar border, while another 12 were airlifted from Simikot to Nepalgunj before being moved by road to Lucknow. They are scheduled to fly to Hyderabad on a special service. In addition, 10 Telugu citizens stranded in Pokhara reached Kathmandu on a chartered flight and have since boarded an Indigo flight to Visakhapatnam.

Minister Lokesh emphasized that no effort would be spared until the last Telugu citizen was safely repatriated, and the helpline centres at AP Bhavan and RTGS would continue operating round-the-clock. “It is our responsibility to bring back every stranded citizen. Officials must remain vigilant and provide full support until all return home safely,” he said.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu lauded the efforts, calling the rescue a success story of swift governance and coordination. “I am relieved that our citizens have been reunited with their families. I thank the central government for its prompt support and appreciate the tireless efforts of Minister Lokesh, his team, and officials who worked in unison,” he said.