As many as 203 Nepalis stranded in Kerung, Tibet, after a flood swept away the Miteri Bridge over the Lhende River, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi River, are being repatriated to Nepal via the Tatopani border point on Wednesday.

Rasuwa’s Chief District Officer Arjun Paudel said the Nepalis, including workers and truck drivers, had been kept safe in Kerung since the flood hit on July 8. The Chinese authorities rescued 72 Nepali truck drivers and others from the Tibetan side of the border that night and had been providing them with food and shelter, he said.

Paudel said the returnees are being brought to Tatopani in Sindhupalchok district in 20 vehicles escorted by Chinese security personnel.

Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak had instructed Nepal’s Consulate General in Lhasa to coordinate the evacuation. During the continued diplomatic efforts, Consul General Laxmi Niraula urged the Chinese side to bring the Nepalis back via the Tatopani border, said Sindhupalchok CDO Kiran Thapa.

Thapa said the Nepalis will be handed over to Nepal’s representatives, including local authorities, at the border. “We have reached Tatopani to receive the returnees,” he said.

They are expected to reach Tatopani by Wednesday. The Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality will provide food and coordinate further transportation to Kathmandu.

The Rasuwa-based Friendship Bridge was destroyed in the flood, making it impossible to repatriate the Nepalis through the usual route. Several trade and transport groups had requested the government to rescue their employees and workers stranded in Kerung.