Visakhapatnam: Tourists from Andhra Pradesh who returned home from violence-torn Nepal on Thursday, said they went through a chilling ordeal — close encounters with death in narrow alleys, zipping through arterial roads to escape angry protesters and widespread arson, and stranded in a foreign land with most of their cash and valuables gone.Of the nearly 100 people from north coastal Andhra Pradesh, a group of 10 has had a particularly harrowing time.After checking into a hotel at Pokhara on Sept 7, they set out to visit the ancient Muktinath temple in Mustang district the next day, leaving their luggage and belongings behind. Before they could return on Sep 9, violence and arson had engulfed the town.Their Nepalese driver informed them of the escalating violence and protests. As the route to their hotel was blocked, they were trapped for hours in a narrow alley in Pokhara, confined to their van. But the worst was yet to come. Protesters stormed the alley, nearly launching an attack with sticks and stones before their driver started pleading with them that they were tourists. Let off, when they finally reached their hotel, they found it had been set ablaze, with gas cylinders exploding as flames leapt and engulfed the building, gutting everything, including their valuables like gold jewellery and currency notes.With widespread violence raging across the Himalayan nation, no alternative accommodation was available. The route to another hotel suggested by their travel agency was blocked by protesters. After hours, the group took refuge in a newly opened hotel and eventually contacted the Indian embassy and various govt agencies in Andhra Pradesh, including APNRTS and AP Bhavan. The Andhra govt arranged a chartered flight to evacuate them from Pokhara to Kathmandu on Sep 11, and then back to Visakhapatnam.Speaking to TOI, the tourists recounted their ordeal.KVS Sridevi, an LIC employee, said, “When we somehow returned to our hotel, it was charred to ruins. Our luggage, including gold and cash, was reduced to ashes.”AVRK Murthy, a Vizag resident, said, “Though we stayed in another hotel on the night of Sept 9, we couldn’t sleep or eat. Protesters continued to set buildings on fire, and the sound of LPG cylinders exploding nearby kept us confined to our rooms till the early hours of Sep 10,” he said. “Our driver was also attacked by protesters with flowerpots and other objects.”A Sujatha, another tourist, said they planned to explore revered sites in Nepal like the Pashupatinath temple and return on Sep 14. “The violence caused immense mental suffering and fear. We lost our belongings in the fire and watched in horror as thick plumes of smoke rose from our hotel. Fortunately, we found another hotel that night. Mobile signals were weak, but we managed to contact the AP govt helpline, which eventually helped us return unharmed to Visakhapatnam,” she said.
