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Himachal Pradesh passage for four foreigners, no Kullu entry for another four

MANALI: The ministry of external affairs (MEA) helped four foreigners in evacuation from Ladakh via Leh-Manali highway on Friday, while another four Israeli nationals coming from Rajasthan were not allowed to enter Kullu by local police and sent back.

The embassy of Mexico in India had requested MEA to facilitate movement of a national from Leh to IGI airport, Delhi, to board a special flight back to the South American country.

The Mexican national was among four foreigners stranded in Ladakh for long time due to the lockdown to contain Covid-19. MEA, with help of governments of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh , arranged taxis for the four. The Covid-19 cell of MEA had made it clear to the governments that the three non-Mexican citizens, each from Switzerland, USA and Japan, would accompany their citizen.

An official said a taxi from Leh dropped the four at Sarchu, the border of Ladakh and Himachal, on Thursday, from where another taxi brought them to Keylong in Lahaul on Friday. "The taxi will drop them off at IGI Airport, Delhi, where all four will stay until their flight itinerary is finalised," he said.

Meanwhile, four Israeli nationals holding a permit to visit Kullu from Rajasthan were sent back by police from Bajaura police post.

Kullu SP Gaurav Singh said they reached Bajaura at night. "They had come with a permit from Rajasthan. When we checked, it was found they didn't have any important purpose to visit Kullu and neither was there any emergency. We explained them the present situation and sent them back to Rajasthan," he added.

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