Post News Network
Kendrapara, April 30: More than 50 migrant workers, who were stranded in earthquake-ravaged Nepal, have returned to their villages in this coastal district in the last 24 hours.
All of them were working as plumbers in Kathmandu and most of them are natives of Alapua, Choudakulat, Amrutamanohi, Bhuinpur, Kalashpur, Penthapal, Ghusuriamal, Sanamanga, Ketuapala, Dihasahi and Batipada villages.
According to official sources, 335 to 376 people of this district are still stranded in Nepal. Collector Debaraj Senapati Wednesday paid a visit to the families of the stranded workers and took stock of the situation, besides meeting the returnees.
Ramesh Sethy, who returned to his native Amrutamanohi Wednesday, said they were working in Kuleshwor locality when the calamity struck. They had to stay at a temporary shelter at Kuleshwor in the aftermath of the quake and could not get sufficient relief material, he added.
Bulu Kumar Sethy, another returnee, said, “I was going to collect payment from my employer when the quake occurred. I saw multi-storied buildings falling like ninepins. Ten to 15 people died after being sandwiched by the debris. Later, I found my wife and 5-year-old daughter Prachi standing shocked in a field along with other people. My experience in Nepal was horrific. I will never go back there and would rather prefer menial jobs in Orissa for a living.”
Meanwhile, septuagenarian Charu Mallick of Tulashidiha under Pattamundai block is worried over her son’s family members stranded in Nepal. Since Saturday, she has no communication with her son Niranjan. The family is spending sleepless nights thinking of the worst, said Mallick, with tears rolling down her eyes.