Chaos reigns at Nepal's only international airport

Chaos prevailed at Nepal's only international airport here today with hundreds waiting to be evacuated from the earthquake-ravaged country as India and other nations scurried to bring back their panic-stricken citizens.

While 2,500 people have been evacuated so far, scores of people, largely Indians were lined up at the Tribhuvan International Airport to board commercial and special defence aircraft to return home.

Given the huge rush, priority is being given to women, children and senior citizens and those injured.

"There is chaos inside the airport as well, people are fainting because of the anxiety and excessive stress. Most of these are Indians," said Ekta Adhikari, a doctor at the Kathmandu Medical College.

"Until now, 2,500 Indians have been evacuated. Yesterday 15 flights ferried Indians trapped in the country, the exercise will continue till most of these people are evacuated," Prabhat Singh, a senior official of the Indian High Commission, told PTI.

"M17 Indian choppers have been pressed in to evacuate people from the inner parts of Sindhupal Chowk, Gorkha and Nuwakot districts. Rescue operations in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu are also being carried out by the Indian authorities," he said.

Almost everybody waiting outside the airport had some or the other harrowing experience to tell.

Fayyaz Alam, a youth in his early 20s who hailed from Kishanganj, Bihar, and working in Kathmandu as a tailor, was there waiting with his heavily pregnant 20-year-old wife and his two brothers to be evacuated.

"After the earthquake, I don't find this place safe for my pregnant wife so we all have decided to leave for India," he said.

However, due to the heavy backlog of those waiting to return to India, the High Commission authorities at the airport maintained that only his wife and one more person can be ferried for now.