Nearly 1,000 people have entered Manang, a remote mountain district in Gandaki Province, amidst the nationwide lockdown enforced by the government to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Most families in Manang migrate to Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and Besisahar of Lamjung in October-November every year to avoid the biting cold, and return home in March. This year, however, they could not return to their home district due to the lockdown that has been in place since March 24.

But since this is a crucial time for Manang residents to engage in agricultural activities, federal parliament members Polden Chhopang Gurung and Karma Ghale made arrangements to bring the district’s residents back home from various cities during the lockdown period.

“The lockdown was enforced at a time when Manang locals return home to work in their fields. We, therefore, coordinated with the authorities concerned to arrange for their return to the district during the lockdown,” said Gurung.

According to Sharada Chalise, assistant chief district officer of Manang, a total of 985 people from several local units in the district returned home in the past one and a half months.

“555 people of Nisyang, 214 of Narpabhumi, 178 of Chame and 26 of Nason have returned home since March 15. We have been informed that 12 other people are on their way to Manang,” said Chalise. “As many as 143 people entered the district on April 26 alone.”

The people’s representatives of all four local units in Manang had urged lawmakers to bring back the stranded residents of Manang.

“The villagers returned home with the help of lawmakers,” said Mingma Chhiring Lama, the chairman of Narpabhumi Rural Municipality.

The local administrations in Manang have set up health desks to examine the health status of the incoming people. Deputy Superintendent of Police Mekha Bahadur Kunwar said the newcomers were allowed to enter the district only after having their health examined.

“We have asked them to stay in self-quarantine,” he said. Manang is the smallest district in terms of population. According to the fresh census carried out after the implementation of federalism in 2017, there are 5,904 people living in Manang.