32 persons hailing from Tamil Nadu arrive from quake-hit Nepal

CHENNAI: Relief writ large on their faces, 32 persons hailing from Tamil Nadu arrived here from quake-hit Nepal.

The 32 persons were flown in from Delhi, where they were brought by the Indian rescue mission, and later brought to Chennai in batches by different flights since last night, officials said.

Aishwarya Lakshmi, residing here and who had gone on a visit to the hilly region along with her parents, expressed relief at reaching home.

"We were left clueless after the killer quake struck the Himalayan country," she said.

"Even travelling in a cab was a risky affair due to the aftershocks and the vehicles used to stop frequently," she said, narrating the ordeal.

However, after being moved to safer locations before being flown to Delhi by Indian rescue agencies, state government officials received them there and took care of their accommodation and travel back home, she said.

More such persons hailing from Tamil Nadu are scheduled to arrive later, officials said.

On Sunday, Tamil Nadu government had said 311 persons belonging to the state were stranded in Nepal following the earthquake and that efforts were on to bring them back safely.

"All arrangements are in place for the stay of stranded people in Tamil Nadu House in Delhi and for their return to the state," the government had said.

A report from Kathmandu, quoting a Nepalese police official said, at least 4,352 bodies have been recovered after Saturday's massive earthquake that struck just outside of the capital, Kathmandu. A further 8,063 people have been injured in the quake.