Dharamshala: 390 Tibetans stranded in Delhi due to the lockdown have finally left for their homes thanks to the excellent support and guidance issued by the Delhi Samyeling Tibetan Settlement Office. Another 151 are waiting for their passes and other travel arrangements.
Once their pending passes and arrangements are approved, the Delhi Settlement Office would have sent a total of 541 stranded Tibetans to their homes including students.
In view of the worsening COVID-19 situation in Delhi with its rapidly rising hotspots across the city, the Settlement office has approached the repatriation with utmost urgency.
“The longer they are stranded in Delhi would mean a greater risk of exposure to the disease,” says Delhi Settlement Officer, Phuntsok Topgyal.
From applying for interstate travel passes, medical certificates and liaising with local authorities of more than 11 states to which the stranded people have requested repatriation, the Delhi Settlement Office has gone out of its way to guide and facilitate safe and smooth passage for the stranded people.
Prioritising the stranded students in Delhi and those in Baroda, the settlement office has been constantly liaising with all concerned authorities of the respective regions of their home states.
As told by Mr Phuntsok Topgyal, 541 stranded Tibetans have so far contacted the office seeking help.
Of which, the Settlement Office has been able to 129 to their home state in Ladakh, 49 to Himachal Pradesh, 39 to Uttarakhand, 10 to Karnataka, 7 to Sikkim and West Bengal. 1, 2, 2 and 2 stranded persons have been sent to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Punjab respectively.
The Settlement Office has also facilitated the return of 93 stranded students from Baroda to their home states in Dehradun, Mainpat, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The travel expenses of the students were borne by the Department of Education, CTA.
Another 40 stranded students in Delhi were also sent home to Arunachal Pradesh through the Settlement office. There are several additional numbers which the office will update soon.
The medical examination of all the stranded returning has been done and once they arrive, they will be kept at quarantine centres under the coordination of the respective settlement offices and local authorities.
For those who are still stranded in Delhi and require immediate guidance may contact Delhi Settlement Officer Phuntsok Topgyal at 8259931182.
Visit CTA’s official COVID-19 Emergency Relief Committee website for details.