Over 200 From Bengal Stranded In Afghanistan: Mamata Banerjee Seeks Centre’s Intervention

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said the Central government must take immediate steps to enable these people to return home safely.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (File Pic)

Kolkata: As nations across the globe continue to make efforts to bring back its citizens from Afghanistan post the Taliban capture, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said over 200 people from her state are currently stranded in the war-torn nation.     

Banerjee said she has received information that about 200 people from Darjeeling, Terai and Kalimpong are currently trapped in Afghanistan.  

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said the Central government must take immediate steps to enable these people to return home safely.

“We have received information that more than 200 people from Darjeeling, Terai and Kalimpong are stranded in Afghanistan. My Chief Secretary is writing a letter to Ministry of External Affairs for arranging their safe return to India and West Bengal,” ANI quoted Banerjee as saying.

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Earlier on Tuesday morning, an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft on Tuesday morning brought back 120 Indian officials, including the last batch of the Indian embassy staff, from the Kabul airport.

Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Rudrendra Tandon, after safe evacuation from Kabul said that the Afghanistan capital has been fully taken over by Taliban.

“We're continuously monitoring the situation because there are still some Indian citizens who are there. That is why Air India will continue to run its commercial services to Kabul as long as the airport in Kabul functions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Banerjee also said that former speaker of the Tripura Assembly, Jiten Sarkar, wrote to her and expressed his desire to join the TMC.

Expressing confidence of her party conquering the throne of Tripura, Banerjee said: “We will win Tripura next. We want that the Bengal scheme to be implemented in Tripura also.”