Sikkim Girl Stuck in Pune amid Lockdown Appeals Govt for Help

Gangtok, March 29, 2020:

Sikkim girl Priyanka Chettri, who is stuck in Pune, has appealed to Sikkim Government to help her return home amid lockdown.

"I initially believed that the lockdown will last till April 15 but here in Pune, people are saying that the lockdown will continue till June 15. The Government should think about us. How will we stay away from our families here? What will we do here for so long?," said Priyanka.

She added that she was not alone but many from the Northeastern part of the country are stuck in Pune, Maharashtra. "I request the Government to arrange for our return to our homes. We will pay for our tickets but there has to be something to reach home. There are no flights, no trains, even local auto are not plying. In this scenario, how will we manage here away from our families till June 15. The Government should think of us."

It may be mentioned here that after Prime Minister Narendra declared a nationwide lockdown post the Janata Curfew, lakhs of people were stuck outside their States. With no transport mode operating in the country, the ones stranded had appealed to their respective State Governments to help them return to their hometowns.

ALSO READ: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Urges Citizens to Maintain Social Distance & Not Emotional Distance

Reports suggest that there are many more stranded Sikkimese across the country and abroad like her. Many Sikkimese students took to social media as a last resort in order to appeal the Government to enable their homecoming. Alina Gurung, a Sikkimese student studying in Himachal wrote, “We the students of Abhilashi University, chail chowk, district Mandi, Himachal Pradesh (resident of Sikkim) would like to request you to please accept this letter so that we have the allowance to get back to Sikkim.”

Gurung, in her post further added that the Sikkimese students have been facing a lot of difficulties amid the lockdown. She further adds that none of the Sikkimese students have come in contact with COVID-19 positive patients and invites the Government to perform tests on them, if required.

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Another student from Sikkim, Sushmita Chhetri, who is studying in Karnataka College of Nursing in Bangalore said, “we’re all stuck in here because of the ongoing curfew. Me and many other students have booked the flights on 25th and other following dates. Looking forward to the ongoing health crisis, we feel unsafe to be here, the cases have reached more than 30, shops are shutting down, meals have been reduced.” Chettri further adds that their state, Sikkim, which is yet to report any cases, is much more safer.

Another Sikkim girl who is pursuing nursing in Bangalore, Dri Sti NiRoula, writing to Jacob Khaling Rai, the political secretary to Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, stated: “I am from Sikkim currently pursuing B.Sc Nursing in Bangalore. We are stuck here our flight got cancelled and we don’t have any option rather seeking help.” She further added that she is trapped in her hostel as the gates have been locked down for a week. “Now our only hope is the Sikkim Government. Hope you will respond to our queries.”

The Sikkim Government is yet to take intiatives to respond to the appeals of its citizens stuck outside.

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