Nepal turmoil hits local trade, daily losses cross Rs 10 cr | Lucknow News
Lucknow: The ongoing turmoil in Nepal has hit cross-border trade through the India-Nepal border, causing daily losses of over Rs 10 crore.Hundreds of trucks loaded with vegetables, fish, dairy products, rice, wheat, petroleum and other goods remain stranded at Rupaidiha land port in Bahraich, with perishable items rotting in the heat. Nearly 1,000 trucks lined up to enter Nepal, including several stuck inside Nepal Customs, were forced to return after unrest escalated. Green vegetables loaded on trucks began to stink, forcing traders to sell cauliflower, spinach, tomatoes, beans, gourd and pumpkins at throwaway prices in Indian markets. Truck drivers, stranded for days, are also facing food and water shortages. Officials said truck rental alone costs around Rs 45,000 per day, adding up to Rs 1.8 lakh in four days, excluding taxes and other expenses. Meanwhile, the disruption also hit border markets in Rupaidiha, Mihipurwa and Bichhiya, which depend on Nepali customers for nearly 90% of sales. The violence in the Himalayan nation has prompted tighter security on the Indian side, with SSB and two companies of PAC conducting joint patrols on the porous UP-Nepal border areas. “The border is under 24-hour vigil, and movement through all posts is being closely monitored,” said Amrendra Kumar Varun, commandant of SSB’s 62nd battalion. Despite the restrictions, several Nepali labourers have been slipping into India through village pathways to reach workplaces in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Meanwhile, 67 petroleum tankers bound for Nepal are stranded near the Gonda depot with the Indian Oil Corporation saying that it was monitoring the situation. Roadways revenue also dropped, with Devi Patan depots losing nearly Rs 48,000 in four days. On Friday, authorities allowed 17 Indian pilgrims to cross the Rupaidiha border en route to Kailash Mansarovar via Nepalgunj Airport. However, regular civilian cross-border movement remains suspended. Only Indian citizens stranded in Nepal are being allowed to return on showing Aadhaar identification. In a related development, six prisoners, who escaped a Nepal jail during the unrest, were caught by SSB and police while trying to sneak into India. Five were handed over to Nepal Police while one will be repatriated after paperwork is complete.
