THE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations ’Matšepo Ramakoae has reassured the nation that Lesotho nationals studying and working in India are safe amid soaring cases of the COVID-19 pandemic in that Asian country.

International media reports show that scores of bodies are washing up on the banks of the Ganges River as Indians fail to keep pace with the deaths and cremations of around 4 000 people a day from the novel coronavirus.

India currently accounts for one in three of the reported deaths from coronavirus around the world, according to a Reuters tally, and its health system is overwhelmed, despite donations of oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment from around the world.

Most of the country has been completely shut in a bid to put the gory situation under control.

There are at least 85 Basotho living in India on various deployments. Despite those in foreign missions, there are also students studying in various universities across the country and soldiers on military training.

Mrs Ramakoae disclosed this information in the National Assembly on Monday, indicating that since the outbreak of the pandemic, her ministry has been monitoring all the countries through their embassies, especially where Basotho are living in great numbers.

Luckily enough, no Lesotho nationals have reportedly perished from the disease in other countries since the advent of the pandemic, except of course in the neighbouring South Africa.

While the pandemic is wreaking havoc across India, Mrs Ramakoae has instructed the Lesotho embassy in New Delhi to warn its staff members to remain calm and vigilant at all times.

She said three of them were infected by the virus but have since fully recovered.

“We are aware of the efforts made to bring the situation in that country under control by the Indian health sector,” she also said.

She advised Basotho living in India to remain wherever they are as that would help to reduce chances of spreading the virus.

Mrs Ramakoae said their repatriation is not easy as they are scattered all over that country which is on a total shutdown.

Currently there are no flights coming in and out of the virus-riddled country.

Amid the crisis, Mrs Ramakoae said they have disbursed funds to Lesotho nationals marooned in India so that they could survive during this crunch time.

She said India shares strong diplomatic ties with Lesotho, adding that the former is about to donate 36 000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the latter.

She said it appears that India relaxed its COVID-19 restrictions too soon unaware that the pandemic would bounce back to wipe away its people. 

“The ministry therefore pleads with everyone to remain calm as the situation will soon return to normalcy,” she said.

She was quick to note that Lesotho nationals living in India have also received their first COVID-19 vaccine jab.

The minister further warned the entire nation to be vigilant as the third wave of the pandemic is looming.

What is of great concern is that the wave has already hit Free State province in South Africa, which is close to Lesotho.

Mrs Ramakoae said the new variant is reportedly more deadly than the previous one as it does not portray any notable or known symptoms.