PANCHTHAR: As many as 14 Nepali pilgrims have been stranded in Andhra Pradesh of India after the Indian government enforced 21-day nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Speaking over the phone to THT reporter, one of the pilgrims, 70-year-old Muktinath Khatiwada of Phalefung-1 in Panchthar district said, "We have been stranded on the road for a week now due to the lockdown in India."

After the lockdown, we have been stuck approximately 60 kilometres away from Chennai in Southern India, Khatiwada lamented. "We are facing more difficulties after the locals refused to provide us with accommodation in the area," said another pilgrim Govinda Pokhrel.

Local police authority urged us to find appropriate accommodation by ourselves. However, we have been taking refuge in parked vehicles around the area, Pokhrel shared. "Adding more agony to our pain, the travel agent declined to rescue us due to the lockdown in India."

Most of the pilgrims are senior citizens and we are worried about their health during these difficult times, Pokhrel said.