With reports on the death toll expected to rise in Nepal’s devastating earthquake and reach upto 10,000, according to Sushil Koirala, prime minister, Nepal, and rescue operations still on in full force currently. In the midst of this tragedy, 28 tourists travelling with Mumbai-based travel tour operator, Veena World, have returned safely to Mumbai in the wee hours today. The Nepal tour which was from April 19-26, 2015 covered places such as Nepal, Pokhara, Chitwan, and had 14 male and 14 women as part of the tour. When contacted for updates about the travellers, Veena Patil, managing director, Veena World told Express TravelWorld, “Our Nepal group completed the tour well and were on their last leg at Pashupatinath Temple when this tragic incident took place. The group was stranded at Kathmandu Airport for two days due to the inability of flights reaching Kathmandu from Mumbai, but they have landed back safely to Mumbai today early morning. All the credit goes to the patience of our guests who kept themselves calm under the disastrous condition of the devastating earthquake, our tour manager Sachin Bhise and Veena World team, who were in coordination with our guests, their relatives, our Nepal associates ABC Rustom, Ishwar and the airline- Jet Airways.”
Further adding that, “We are specially thankful to the assistance provided by government of Maharashtra-CM office, Vinodji Tawade, Sharmila Thackeray, Sarang Kale, additional resident commissioner GOI Sahay in Delhi, Ravi Sharma of Kathmandu Air Traffic control and Ministry of External Affairs Nepal.” She also informed that the company will take a month to observe the situation and then decide on whether to begin the tours to Nepal from either June or wait till the season from August-Spetember this year. “Presently everything is in a standstill atmosphere and the exact idea of damages occurred in tourist places have not been assessed. We will wait and observe before deciding the further step of action. We should all extend our support to help all our Nepal friends and families to surpass this difficult stage in life and move ahead to make the country rise again,” mentioned Patil.