Two French tourists who were cycling from Delhi to Kathmandu got lost after taking a wrong turn and ended up near Churaili Dam, police said on Friday. The tourists were cycling at night when some villagers spotted them and took them to the Churaili police outpost for safety.
French Cyclists Taken to Safety
The two French nationals, Brian Jacques Gilbert and Sebastian Francois Gabriel, had arrived in Delhi from France on January 7 and were heading to Kathmandu, Nepal, via Tanakpur from Pilibhit. However, they were misled by Google Maps, which directed them to a shortcut through Baheri in Bareilly. The incorrect directions led them to the remote Churaili Dam area in the dark.
अतिथि देवो भव:
दिनांक 23.01.2025 की रात्रि को दिल्ली से साइकिल लेकर नेपाल काठमांडु जा रहे 02 फ्रांसीसी नागरिकों के रास्ता भटक जाने की सूचना पर @bareillypolice द्वारा त्वरित कार्यवाही कर उनको सही दिशा बताकर गन्तव्य के लिए सकुशल रवाना किया गया। #UPPCares pic.twitter.com/b6VXwELHvr
— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) January 24, 2025
At around 11 pm on Thursday, villagers found the two cyclists wandering on a deserted road. Unable to understand their language, the villagers decided to take the tourists to the nearby police outpost for assistance.
Police Intervention and Guidance
Baheri Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh explained that the cyclists were confused and disoriented due to the faulty map directions. After receiving the information, Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya intervened and spoke to the tourists. He instructed the local police to ensure they were guided properly on their way.
The police accommodated the tourists for the night at the village Pradhan’s house. On Friday morning, after offering proper route instructions, the police sent them on their way to their intended destination.
