People from Province 1 who have been stranded in different parts of the country will be quarantined and tested for coronavirus before they are sent home, spokesperson for the provincial government, said on Friday.

The stranded will be sheltered at various quarantine centres across the province and they will be sent home in coordination with local governments, said Hikmat Kumar Karki, who is also the provincial minister for internal affairs and law.

“The government is working closely with the local units to identify people who have been stranded at various places in the country and those who have been travelling on foot,” Karki said. “Our aim is to ease their travel back home.”

Meanwhile, the provincial government has also made provisions for people from other provinces stuck in Province 1. “Local units and respective provinces will have to bear the cost of their travel, but we will manage transportation facilities to send them home,” said Karki.

Hundreds of people are currently quarantined in various facilities across the province while many have already been sent to their respective provinces.

The decision comes amid widespread criticism of the federal government for failing to address the problems of people wanting to go home during the nationwide lockdown.