Nepalese facing trauma of not reaching to families
April 28: While those on the ground in disaster-hit Nepal are suffering due to natural calamity, their near and dear ones living abroad are not able to reach them due to uncertain weather conditions in Nepal, frequent tremors and subsequent disruption of flights to Kathmandu. Undoubtedly, there is huge rush also in all the flights to Kathmandu.
A large number of Nepalese living abroad are trying to visit Nepal after a powerful 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, causing massive damage in Kathmandu and surrounding areas with strong tremors being felt in neighbouring countries
Dhan Bahadur, a motor mechanic in Salalah, belongs to a village about 150 kilometres from Kathmandu. After hearing about the disaster he wanted to reach out to his family in Nepal. But to his utter dismay his connecting flight, which was scheduled to fly from Muscat at 2.45am on Tuesday, was cancelled. He could not board his flight in Salalah, as there was no confirmation that he would get another flight.
When Dhan contacted his travel agent he was told that all the flights to Kathmandu were full till May 1 and confirmed availability was there only on May 3. Totally disoriented from work due to loss of life and property of his near and dear ones, Daha is running from one tour operator to another to hear some positive news on confirmed ticket to Kathmandu.
A travel agent, who did not want to be named, said generally there were enough flights to Kathmandu having connectivity from Salalah either via Muscat or Doha. “But due to uncertain weather condition or technical reasons at the port of arrival, flights are not operating regularly putting both the passengers and travel agents in a fix.”
“Since this is our responsibility to provide alternative arrangements to our customers, we are finding it hard in the wake of cancellation or rescheduling of flights,” said the travel agent.
There are many others like Dhan Bahadur, who are working in different parts of the Sultanate and not able to reach out to their families back home in the event of crisis.
Harishankar Thapa, a worker at a hypermarket in Salalah, was back from annual leave only six months back. His next leave was due one-and-a-half years later. He, however, wanted to go to his home to be behind his family in the time of crisis. “My employer was generous enough to grant me leave. Since I was not focusing on my work after hearing about loss of many relatives back home, I took leave and prepared to go. But tickets are not available for one week,” he said and added “still I want to go, even at a later date.”
Commenting on the rush situation on the Kathmandu sector, a source in the Qatar Airways said, “Of course there are limitations in such extreme situations. As of now there is no disruption in scheduled flights to Kathmandu via Doha. Rush is there and we are trying our level best to facilitate to all those who are travelling to Kathmandu.”
“Passengers who have booked tickets between April 25 and May 15 are being facilitated with booking in any other available flights depending upon availability of seats without any extra fee, without any penalty for date change or any other charges,” said the source.