Nepal earthquake: 18 tourists from Maharashtra still missing

Eighteen tourists from Maharashtra, who were in Nepal when the earthquake struck, are yet to be traced. While 550 tourists have returned, 600 people are expected to be back in two days.

Eighteen tourists from Maharashtra, who were in Nepal when the earthquake struck, are yet to be traced. While 550 tourists have returned, 600 people are expected to be back in two days.

“Around 350 of them returned via Delhi in commercial or Indian Air Force aircraft. Around 250 of them have either returned or are on their way back via the Gorakhpur route,” said KH Govindraj, secretary, relief and rehabilitation department.

“No casualty has been reported so far, but 18 people are untraceable, according to the information received from their relatives. We hope they will be traced soon,” said another officer from the department.

The department is keen on getting better prepared to tackle emergencies like the one that struck Nepal last week. The issues will be discussed in the next meeting with the state disaster management authority, which is headed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

“In the light of the earthquake, we will discuss the measures that the state needs to take,” said Govindraj.

“We have sent four teams of doctors and two teams have been kept on stand-by for the Centre. The Central government has asked us to refrain from sending rescue teams, and have asked us to send medicines instead,” the officer said.