Nepalese passengers and rescue workers from around the world continued to face difficulties here today with inordinate delays in baggage reclamation compounding the problems at the airport, which has practically become a shelter for the needy and foreign backpackers.
Uniformed humanitarian workers were seen scurrying around the premises of the Tribhuvan International Airport looking for their luggage while some passengers were seen waiting for long for their bags to arrive.
33-year-old Phumpa Sanga, a labour worker, employed in India, boarded a flight from New Delhi and was on his way to his hometown, about 100 km from here, first time since the disaster struck. But, he was left stranded at the airport, as his luggage did not arrive for over an hour.
His accompanying family members, including women, stood by the conveyor belt watching it go. Sanga's house was totally destroyed in last Saturday's 7.9-magnitude earthquake and he wanted to rush home soon.
35-year-old Buddhist monk Kunga, who was to go to Tergar Monastery in Shimbo, was instead stuck at the airport as his luggage too took hours to arrive. The monastery, he said, has been damaged in the temblor.
A team of doctors and nurses from Philippines chapter of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Society were seen standing in a corner of the airport, waiting for their last suitcase to arrive.
"We are more worried about our luggages because, we are carrying medicines. I am a emergency medicine doctor and my colleague here is an obstretician/gyanaecologist, and we want to rush the supplies early," Ranvier Martinez told PTI.
And, while chaos continued inside the airport, it was no different outside with a swarm of people awaiting the arrival of their loved ones.
While some stood in the waiting area to catch a glimpse of friends and families, hosts of international NGOs and philanthropic institutions held out placards near the taxi bays.
Sardar Sejwal Singh, who is from the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara in Delhi and has travelled to Kathmandu along with his colleagues to join other volunteers working on holding a 'langar' (community meal) among other relief measures for the survivors, had to wait for his luggage for long too.
"We live in Kathmandu, and we flew from Dubai via New Delhi. We took an Air India flight from Delhi, but our luggage has not arrived yet. And, the airlines office is closed here. Wish there was someone to help us. They have given us a contact number too, but it is not helping either," a passenger said.
Outside, near the entrance gates, foreign backpackers, slouched on the floor, waiting for their flights.
"I have checked out of my hotel. And, on my last day, what choice do I have, all the sightseeing places are destroyed, so I have to wait here until the flight comes, even though it means waiting for six hours," Herbest Meiner, a German citizen, on his way to Hong Kong, said.
