Situation Normalizes on India-Nepal Border After New Government Formation. Movement of passengers and commercial vehicles resumes from Rupediha Border. Over 500 trucks stranded for five days sent to Nepal, and trade has been restored.
India- Nepal Border Open: The situation at the Rupediha border, situated on the India-Nepal border, appears to be normalizing. Movement of passengers, commercial trucks, and private vehicles has resumed from Saturday. Over 500 freight vehicles that were stranded for five days have been sent to Nepal, while hundreds of vehicles have returned to India. The border is now completely clear, and commercial activities are getting back on track.
Atmosphere Changes After New Government Formation
Following a recent change in government in Nepal, the situation at the India-Nepal border has begun to improve. On Saturday, passenger vehicles, motorcycles, cars, and trucks were seen crossing the Rupediha border. While commercial activities intensified, the movement of ordinary citizens remained limited.
Commandant Ganga Singh Udawat of the 42nd Battalion Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) stated that the atmosphere is normalizing after the formation of the new government. No one is being stopped now, but entry is granted only after verifying the identity of each individual. Security and surveillance are continuously maintained at the border outposts.
Passenger Count Decreases, Kailash Yatra Continues
Typically, around 50,000 people pass through the Rupediha border daily. However, on Saturday, this number dropped to 20,000. During this time, a group of approximately 20 Indian pilgrims en route to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra also departed towards Nepal.
Traders' Faces Lit Up with Joy
Sudhir Sharma, the In-charge Officer of the Land Port Authority, expressed that drivers and helpers of trucks and containers, who were stranded for five days, are now smiling with relief. All trucks were sent to Nepal on Saturday, and commercial vehicles stranded in Nepalganj returned to India.
He further informed that over 500 commercial vehicles were dispatched to Nepal from the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Rupediha. These vehicles were carrying goods such as diesel, petrol, gas, and food supplies. Meanwhile, hundreds of empty vehicles returned to India after completing their deliveries. No vehicles are currently stranded at the border.
Balance of India-Nepal Trade
Sudhir Sharma also highlighted that the Rupediha border is crucial for India-Nepal trade. The trade conducted here consists of 99 percent exports and only 1 percent imports. India exports food items, petroleum products, and daily necessities to Nepal, while only herbal medicines are imported from Nepal. On Saturday, two trucks filled with herbal medicines arrived in India from Nepal.
How Did the Situation Change in Nepal?
Nepal recently went through a significant political crisis due to Gen-Z protests. This movement began with the government's decision to ban social media platforms. Gradually, the anger escalated, focusing on issues like corruption, political nepotism, unemployment, and economic inequality.
Platforms like Discord played a crucial role in organizing this movement. On September 9, thousands of youths took to the streets. The protests turned into violent clashes, resulting in the deaths of over 50 people and damage to government buildings.
