Dozens of foreign tourists, mainly trekkers, who have been stranded at different places country the country due to the blockade imposed by the Maoists, are expected to return to the capital from Monday after the withdrawal of the blockade.
Several trekkers were forced to walk long distance to reach urban areas while many others were stranded in highways and district headquarters with no vehicles playing on the road since last six days. There were reports of tourists being stranded in Syafrubesi of Rasuwa, Beshi Sahar of Lamjung, Jiri of Dolakha and on different sections of the Prithivi Highway.
Trekking agents said they had not been able to rescue the stranded trekkers for fear of Maoist attacks. Even as there are no reports of Maoist attacks on tourists, the rebels barred all types of vehicles, including the ‘Tourist Only” buses and jeeps, in highways during the blockade.
Maoist supremo Prachanda and senior leader Dr Baburam Bhattrai issuing a joint statement Sunday evening announced to withdraw the blockade with effect from March 20.
Nil Hari Bastola, managing director of Asian Heritage, a trekking agency based in Thamel, said two Dutch trekkers had been stranded in Syanfrubesi, Rasuwa, since last week. He said the company did send jeeps to rescue the trekkers but the Maoists forced the driver to return back.
The Dutch trekkers who had gone for 10 days trekking in Rasuwa and were on their way back to Kathmandu when the blockade started. “They are not in a position to walk all the way from Syafrubesi to Kathmandu nor the Maoists have allowed rescue vehicles,” he told Nepalnews, lauding the Maoist decision to call off the blockade. Hopefully, they will return to Kathmandu by Monday evening, he said.
Along with the Dutch trekkers, there are few more tourists stranded in the area for some days due to the blockade, according to him.
Coby Kunst, the Dutch general advisor of Asian Heritage, complained that the Maoists have failed to observe their commitment not to target the tourists. “We have been campaigning in Netherlands to encourage our countrymen to visit Nepal but the situation here is getting very difficult.” “I want to request the Maoists to keep their words,” she said.
Officials at the Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) said though no formal complaints were registered about the stranding of trekkers there were reports of some trekkers being stranded in Jiri, Annapurna trekking route and some other remote areas.
Dozens of tourists were stranded due to Maoist obstructions at difference sections of the Prithivi Highway on Sunday, reports said.