Cargo trucks from India enter Nepal

Kathmandu, October 4

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Over 100 trucks carrying essential items and petroleum products today entered Nepal from India, bringing some respite to the country grappling with shortage of fuel and other commodities due to the blockade of key trade points with India by protesters opposing its new Constitution.

Several trucks, including some fuel tankers, which were stranded on the Indian side for over 11 days, entered Nepal through different border checkpoints.

Hundreds of trucks with shipments including medicine, gasoline and cooking fuel had been stranded at the border, citing security concerns due to the ongoing Madhes agitation against the new Constitution.

Over 50 trucks today entered Nepal from Bhairahawa-Sunauli checkpoint while dozens of trucks, including fuel tankers, entered the country from Biratnagar-Jogbani trading point.

Yesterday, 140 cargo trucks, six fuel tankers and two LPG bullets had entered through Bhairahawa-Sunauli point.

However, obstruction continued at Raxaul-Birjung checkpoint, officials said.

The blockade at the Nepal-India border had made life harder for the people in Kathmandu and other major cities as five major checkpoints had been closed for the past 11 days due to the protests.

India has dismissed suggestions that it has imposed any embargo against supplies to Nepal and maintained the obstruction was due to protest and unrest in that country as Indian companies and transporters were apprehensive about their safety and security.

Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae today paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and discussed issues relating to resumption of fuel supply to Nepal, according to Nepalese officials. In the meeting, Ambassador Rae assured him about easing the supply situation from today, according to state-run Nepal Television.

Nepal’s Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyay said as the transportation had been disrupted for the past few days, it would take some time before the flow of supplies to Nepal returned to normal. — PTI