Kolkata/Jalpaiguri: CM Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged tourists from Bengal stranded in Nepal "not to do anything in haste, and avoid danger", assuring that the Bengal govt was working with the Centre to bring them back.
The Bengal police also launched a helpline — 9147889078/0354-2252057 — for all Indian tourists who want to return via the Panitanki or Pashupati Check Post in Darjeeling district.
CM Banerjee, who said she was very pained by video footage of death and destruction in Nepal, added: "They (the stranded tourists) are contacting us in many ways. We are telling them not to move out suddenly. Let peace settle, we will bring you back.
The state police will coordinate, and the administration will help. We are monitoring the situation at multiple levels — from chief secretary to district magistrate and SP," the CM said.
The CM also reiterated: "As soon as I heard there was a problem in Nepal, I came (here). I stayed all night at Uttar Kanya (north Bengal secretariat) to keep watch. ...We hope peace will return. I know many travel enthusiasts have gone there, I would say this much — we have taken it up from our side to ensure they can return quickly.
Please wait a couple of days. Do not hurry. We will gradually bring you back."
CM Banerjee reportedly shifted from the Kanyashree bungalow to Uttarkanya due to mobile connectivity issues. "It is reported that there were network issues at the Kanyashree bungalow, which made it difficult for her to stay updated on the developments in Nepal. As a result, the CM shifted to Uttarkanya on Tuesday night to monitor the situation more closely," an official told PTI.
Later, while meeting the press, Banerjee said that among the Indians stranded in Nepal, there are tourists from Bengal, too. "This is a matter of external affairs, and I will not comment on the situation there. The state govt will contact the central govt (in this regard). We have important border points at Panitanki and Pashupati," said the CM.