State coordinates cross-border rescue, provides transit care before railway departure
Patna: Bihar authorities on Saturday completed the transit and onward evacuation of 102 pilgrims from Maharashtra who had been stranded in Kathmandu after sudden flash floods in Nepal. The group, part of a larger contingent of 106 people from Nagpur district, reached Patna in the early hours and departed later in the morning by a specially augmented express train bound for Maharashtra.
The operation was carried out on the direction of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and under continuous oversight of Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit, the state government said in an official communique. Local officials in Sitamarhi handled immediate ground arrangements following the group’s entry from Nepal.
- 106 pilgrims from Nagpur were affected in Kathmandu after flash floods;
- 4 were flown directly to New Delhi;
- 102 travelled by bus to the India–Nepal border at Bhittamore and were escorted to Sitamarhi;
- They reached Patna at about 2.30am and left for Maharashtra at 7.30am on a specially arranged train.
According to the Bihar government statement, the Sitamarhi district administration, working with the state disaster management department, organised fast-track rescue and transit services after a request by the Maharashtra government. Nepal MP Sandeep Rana arranged four buses to move the pilgrims from Kathmandu to the border at Bhittamore via Janakpur.
On crossing into Bihar, district personnel provided food, drinking water and basic facilities. The pilgrims were then transported to Patna and accommodated at the O P Sah Community Hall in the Patna Sahib area where health checks, meals and lodging were arranged.
| Step | Action taken |
|---|---|
| Evacuation from Kathmandu | Four buses arranged to Bhittamore via Janakpur |
| Border transit | Escorted to Sitamarhi; local administration provided essentials |
| Patna reception | Accommodation at community hall; medical check-ups and food |
| Onward travel | Two additional coaches attached to Patna–Purna Express; departure at 7.30am |
Railway coordination was handled after the chief secretary liaised with the chairperson of the Railway Board in New Delhi. As a result, two extra coaches were attached to the Patna–Purna Express to accommodate the pilgrims for their journey home, the communique said.
“We felt very good about the Bihar administration and the behaviour of the people here. We are all Indians,”
said one rescued pilgrim from Nagpur, identified as Yogesh Gavande in the report.
The state government said the initial rescue and transit arrangements were coordinated on August 28. Sitamarhi officials worked with disaster management teams to ensure safe movement from the border to Patna, where the district administration provided immediate support on arrival.
Officials emphasised the multi-jurisdictional nature of the rescue: Nepalese authorities and a Nepal MP organised the intercity bus transfer within Nepal, while Bihar’s district and state machinery handled border transit, temporary shelter and railway facilitation. Four pilgrims had earlier been flown to New Delhi and did not travel through Bihar.
This episode highlights the role state administrations can play in humanitarian situations that cross international borders. Bihar’s prompt reception and arrangements allowed the majority of the group to continue home without long delay. The swift attachment of coaches by Indian Railways ensured that the pilgrims could leave Patna on the same morning they arrived, reducing the burden on temporary facilities.
Local officials in Sitamarhi and Patna said they maintained basic medical and nutrition services at the community hall until the group’s departure. The Bihar government statement did not provide details on any medical conditions among the evacuees, beyond confirming that health checks were carried out before the journey.
Coordination between state bureaucrats, district administrations and railway authorities remains vital when large groups require cross-border assistance. The Bihar administration’s handling of the case will be reviewed by officials to refine future responses in similar emergencies, the communique added.
The pilgrims’ safe return was welcomed by officials in Nagpur, according to the Bihar statement, which noted the matter was addressed following a request from the Maharashtra government.
Further details, including any follow-up medical care or compensation needs, were not disclosed in the state release. Local administrations said they stood ready to extend additional assistance if requested by home-state authorities.
