War delays efforts to bring back bodies of 48 Nepalese from Gulf: Official

Kathmandu, Apr 3 (PTI) The bodies of 48 Nepalese who died due to various reasons in the Gulf countries could not be brought to Nepal as flights have been disrupted due to the escalating tensions in the region, an official said on Friday.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lok Bahadur Chhetri said that there were 17 bodies in Riyadh, five in Jeddah, five in Dubai, four in Abu Dhabi, three in Tel Aviv, two in Qatar, and one each in Oman and Bahrain.

The delay was caused by the irregularity of flights between Nepal and the Gulf region, he said.

“The government is working towards bringing the bodies to Nepal, and the process for the same is underway,” said Chhetri.

A day earlier, the bodies of nine Nepalese workers were brought to Nepal from Kuwait on a chartered

Kuwait Airways flight.

One Nepalese national has been killed and 21 others injured in the ongoing war in West Asia, according to the ministry.

So far, 86,420 Nepalese nationals who wish to return home have registered their names with the consular section of the foreign ministry. PTI SBP PY PY PY