Nepal has permitted special flights to evacuate over 7,000 foreign nationals, including Indians, stranded in the country after it suspended all international flights to check its worst COVID-19 surge amid acute shortages of medical facilities. Tourists from abroad have been anxiously waiting to get out of Kathmandu after the government extended the lockdown by two weeks, and cancelled all flights, except the two weekly bubble services to India, following a surge in coronavirus infections. Foreign embassies have stepped up efforts to repatriate stranded trekkers and mountaineers. More than 7,000 foreigners, including some 2,000 Indians, are estimated to be stranded in Nepal, the Kathmandu Post reported.
Nepal allows evacuation flights for foreigners stranded amid Covid surge 1 minute read
Kathmandu, May 13 (EFE).- Nepal on Thursday authorized special flights to repatriate over 7,000 foreigners stranded in the country due to a flight ban imposed by authorities until May 31 to check a fresh wave of Covid-19.
“We have allowed a few evacuation flights on the requests made by the foreign embassies in Nepal,” Rajan Pokhrel, the director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, told EFE. .
He said the flights will start operating from Friday, when Nepal’s private Shree Airlines is set to carry Thai citizens to Bangkok and bring Covid aid on the way back.
Thousands of tourists stranded as Nepal extends flight ban amid Covid surge 2 minutes read
By Sangam Prasain y Moncho Torres
Kathmandu/New Delhi, May 12 (EFE).- Thousands of foreign tourists have been left stranded in Nepal after authorities decided to extend the ban on international flights to May 31 as the country struggles to deal with a serious Covid surge.
Nepal had suspended all international flights from May 7 to 14, and the measure was on Tuesday extended to the end of the month, except for an air-bubble arrangement between Kathmandu and New Delhi with two weekly flights.
The decision has clashed with the travel plans of many foreigners, who had expected to fly back once the original ban was lifted.
Photos: Bahraini Prince, Royal Guard team scale Mount Everest
IANS/Kathmandu Filed on May 11, 2021
12 members of the Bahrain Royal Guard reached the top of the world s tallest mountain.
An expedition team consisting of Bahraini Prince Sheikh Mohammed Hamad Mohammed Al Khalifa successfully scaled the world s tallest peak, Mount Everest on Tuesday, according to officials. We have been notified that an expedition team consisting of a Bahrain royal family member has reached the top of Mt. Everest from 5.30am to 6.40am on Tuesday, Mira Acharya, director at Nepal s Department of Tourism, said in a statement.
The Seven Summit Treks, which organised the expedition, also confirmed the news on its social media account.
Mount Everest, the world highest peak. (File photo)
KATHMANDU: Some 80 climbers, including the Bahrain’s prince, reached the top of Mount Everest (Sagarmatha) Tuesday morning.
According to Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)’s director Meera Acharya, an expedition team led by Bahrain’s prince Sheikh Mohammed Al Khalifa, including others, made the successful ascent of the world’s highest peak at 6:30 am Tuesday.
The Bahrain’s royal was leading a 16-member team to the summit, and around 80 climbers, including 12 from his team, reached atop Sagarmatha, Acharya said from Everest base camp, adding that this was the tentative figure as they were trying to have clear communications with the teams.