Nepalese families living in Adai village, three-and-a-half kilometres from Panvel station, were taken by surprise on Saturday evening when a truck loaded with ration kits, arranged by the Raigad district collector and her team in Panvel, arrived at their doorstep.

The development came after this reporter brought the plight of the 150-200 Nepalese labourers to the notice of Collector Nidhi Choudhari for Sunday mid-day's April 26 report. The labourers' stock of food was set to finish on Saturday. "I am thankful to the authorities for hearing our plea and providing us with the kit," said Suraj Soni who came from Nepal a few months ago and has been working at a hotel. "After a very long time, we had black tea on Sunday morning. We could not afford tea powder. Moreover, the one-meal-a-day routine will continue as the stock needs to last for 10 more days. That's when we get the next kit," said Soni.