262 stranded Nepalis from Dubai return home

Kathmandu: As many as 262 Nepalis stranded in Dubai have returned home via chartered flight of Nepal Airlines.

Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) officials said the wide body aircraft A-330 evacuated 262 Nepalis and two children from Dubai and reached Kathmandu airport in the evening Sunday.

Wide body aircraft A-330 of Nepal Airlines had left for Dubai Sunday  morning and was scheduled to return with the passengers at 4:15 in the afternoon.

The NAC’s scheduled flight on August 18 had been cancelled by the government citing lack of quarantine facility for the incoming passengers. As a result, the NAC aircraft returned to Kathmandu empty, leaving the passengers stranded in the airport. Following widespread criticism including by the affected passengers, the cabinet decided to allow a rescue flight to bring them home.

The government has also decided to resume regular international flights starting September 1. However, only Nepali nationals, diplomatic staffers, UN staffers from the countries with easy PCR facility for Corona Virus testing will be allowed to come to Nepal in the flights.

Chartered flights will continue from other countries, as per the recommendation of the concerned diplomatic mission. According to Tribhuvan International Airport Manager Devendra KC, four flights are scheduled to bring Nepalis from different countries (RSS).