A total of 576 Nepali citizens stranded at China’s Kerung border following devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi river on August 26 have been safely brought back to Nepal.

They were repatriated through the Kodari border crossing in Sindhupalchok district with special assistance from the Chinese government and coordination by Nepal’s Armed Police Force.

The stranded Nepalis began returning through Kodari on September 3 after landslides and flood damage disrupted road links on the Nepali side. They were transported to Kathmandu in vehicles arranged in coordination with local authorities and various organisations.

According to the Armed Police Force, 114 people entered Nepal through Kodari on September 3. A further 155 returned through the same route on September 4, including 145 from Rasuwa, one from Dhading and nine from Kathmandu.

Another 96 people crossed on September 5, followed by 105 on the afternoon of September 6 and 106 on the afternoon of September 7.

A 15-member special team under Assistant Sub-Inspector Bhup Bahadur Budhathoki has been continuously deployed from the Armed Police Force’s Border Outpost at Tatopani to assist with the safe movement and repatriation of citizens in the border area.