Hilsa:The closure of Nepal’s Hilsa border point with China has led to significant inconvenience and suffering for people living near the border. Since September 25, heavy snowfall has blocked the crossing, severely affecting access to food, drinking water, and health services for locals and security personnel.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the border was closed due to a large accumulation of snow, and the blizzard also severely impacted the access road. With the Dashain festival nearing, those stranded in Hilsa due to the road and border blockade are increasingly concerned.
The shortage of daily essentials has hit the residents hard, as there is no cross-border movement or transportation. Markets are devoid of green vegetables, fish, and meat. Inspector of Police Kedar Sapkota at the Hilsa border security post noted they are managing with lentil soup. Additionally, securing health treatment has been challenging for the community.
A member of the Armed Police Forces, trained as a community medicine assistant, has been providing crucial medical assistance, offering medicines like Cetamol to those in need.
Though the border towards China opened briefly on Thursday, allowing 144 Nepali citizens to enter, the removal of the snow began only on Wednesday. A mini excavator is being used to clear the snow, but its size is inadequate for effectively clearing the access road in a timely manner.
The slow progress in road clearance is causing concern among locals, resulting in more than 100 people leaving Hilsa for other parts of the district and beyond. Currently, there are 63 government employees, including 35 Armed Police Force members and 20 Nepal police officers, along with some locals stationed in Hilsa.