Itahari, July 8:

Over 250 Nepalis are still stranded in Oman. It may be noted that eight stranded Nepalis were rescued from the Gulf country yesterday. A Chinese firm, Sino Hydro Company, had allegedly taken them to Oman, promising jobs with high salaries, but it left the Nepalis to fend for themselves after their arrival in the country.

Efforts are on to bring the stranded Nepalis home, but it is still unclear whether these efforts will pay, the rescued Nepalis said.

“The Sino Hydro company was bargaining with some of them, saying that it will give each of them Rs 60,000 as airfare, provided they agree to pay back the sum once they reach home,” said Pushkar Parajuli, of Singiya VDC, who returned from Oman yesterday.

In the absence of the Nepali mission in Oman, the stranded Nepalis have been finding it difficult to return home, he said.

The returnees said the Sino Hydro company, “which lured hundreds of Nepalis to Oman and ditched them there, is now enticing other Nepalis into going to Belize by promising jobs for them at a hydroelectric project there.” According to them, the company recently took nine persons from Singiya VDC of Sunsari district to Belize via New Delhi, promising them $200 to $300 in salaries every month.

The Oman returnees claimed that some employees of the Sino Hydro are still moving around in villages of Sunsari and making job offers to all those who care to listen. Locals have demanded a ban on the company.