CHITWAN: Prisoners who escaped from Chitwan Jail have started returning.

Out of the 740 inmates who fled on Wednesday morning after setting fires inside the prison, 54 have voluntarily come back, according to Chitwan District Prison Chief Rabindra Dhungana.

The prisoners had broken through the security cordon of the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and Nepal Police on Wednesday morning. Dhungana said many are returning after being contacted by phone.

“Wednesday’s situation was different—everyone rushed out at once,” Dhungana said. “Perhaps some returned fearing government action against escapees.”

Authorities had struggled to contain the inmates when they began vandalizing and setting fires inside the prison. Security personnel were forced to let them out after the prisoners set the main gate ablaze.