Amaravati, Sept 12: The Andhra Pradesh government has successfully completed its rescue mission to evacuate Telugus stranded in crisis-hit Nepal. An Indigo flight carrying 154 passengers landed safely at Visakhapatnam airport on September 11 at late hours, marking a key developement in the operation.
The special flight, which took off from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, dropped 114 evacuees in Visakhapatnam before continuing to Tirupati with the remaining 40 passengers. Of the total, 10 people stranded in Pokhara were first flown to Kathmandu by a special flight arranged by the state government, where they joined 144 others before being brought to India.
In addition, a group of 22 individuals returned to India by road through the Bihar border, while another 12 from Simikot were airlifted to Nepalgunj on the Uttar Pradesh border via a special flight from Lucknow, before making their way to India.
And that’s liftoff! ✈️ Our special Indigo flight from Kathmandu with 144 Telugu brothers and sisters is now en route to Vizag & Tirupati. It’s been a long 36 hours, but the joy and relief on their faces makes it all worth it! I’m thankful to Team RTGS, Team NRT & Team AP Bhawan… pic.twitter.com/Ofgfn4gso2
— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) September 11, 2025
As per the reports, the operation, spread across 12 different locations in Nepal, was closely monitored by Andhra Pradesh RTGS Minister Nara Lokesh. He coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs, A.P. Bhavan in New Delhi, and on-ground teams to ensure safe and timely evacuation.
Minister Lokesh expressed gratitude to all officials and agencies involved, acknowledging their efforts in successfully concluding the mission.
The Government of India stated on September 9, 2025, that it is closely monitoring developments in Nepal following the recent unrest and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of many young lives. Emphasising India’s role as a close friend and neighbour, the statement urged all concerned to exercise restraint and resolve issues through peaceful dialogue. It also noted that curfews have been imposed in Kathmandu and other Nepali cities, and advised Indian nationals in Nepal to exercise caution and follow the steps and guidelines issued by the local authorities.
