17 tourists from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu stranded in Rohtas

PATNA: Having covered a distance of over 2,300km to reach Bihar from Tamil Nadu to get himself relaxed after his father’s sudden death, Suresh Perumal (30), a resident of Coimbatore, has been stranded in Rohtas district since March due to the lockdown. He does not know where to go for help.
Similarly, 16 other tourists from Maharashtra are also stranded at Dehri-on-Sone in Rohtas district.They are being provided food and accommodation by Gospel Echoing Missionary Society (GEMS), a local charity organisation, since March 22. Four of them are senior citizens and they are anxious about their families back home in Maharashtra, one of the worst Covid-19-affected states in the country.
D G Gnanamuthu (65), a native of Bhandup, a Mumbai suburb, said, “My daughter is pregnant. She is in dire need of my help at this juncture. However, I am miles away from home and stranded at Dehri-on-Sone. There is no money left with me now and the lockdown is getting extended.”
Gynanamuthu and 15 others had visited Patna, Bodh Gaya and several other tourist sites in the state. The lockdown was announced by PM Narendra Modi when they were in Rohtas. “We visited the historical Sher Shah tomb at Sasaram and also a few other places of historical importance in Bihar. Our next trip was Varanasi from where we were supposed to leave for our native state,” Gnanamuthu said.
Those accompanying Gnanamuthu are from Kalyan, Navi Mumbai and Bandu (Pune) in Maharashtra. Most of these tourists had come to Bihar for the first time. “We are now getting bored. Life has virtually come to a standstill due to the extended lockdown,” said Daniel Devapriyam (70), another tourist.
Perumal, who does real estate business in Coimbatore, said his mother and wife were alone in Tamil Nadu and eagerly waiting for his safe return. “We informed the local authorities and sought their help to reach home. However, they expressed their helplessness,” Perumal said.
Victor Alfred, a senior GEMS functionary, said they were providing food and shelter to all the 17 tourists who reached their office at Sikaria under Indrapuri police station in Rohtas district on March 22. “Had the GEMS not come forward to provide them accommodation and food free of cost for such a long period, these tourists would have landed in deep trouble,” he added.
Sub-divisional officer of Dehri Lal Jyoti Nath Sahdeo refused to comment on the matter. However, SHO of Indrapuri police outpost Nihora Ram said a list of 17 tourists from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu was submitted to the police station recently. “What can we do? Police’s role on such matters is limited,” he said.