According to Bhadra Adhikari of Chainpur-7, she has to pay Rs 150 for a kilogram of tomatoes, which costs only Rs 30 at Hile in Dhankuta. She said one kilogram of rice costs Rs 75 and Sugar Rs 95 while one egg costs Rs 20. The price of sugar has also surged by Rs 25 per kilogram.

Adhikari said only the well-to-do people will afford to celebrate the Dashain and Tihar festivals if the price hike continues.

Ashish Shakya, chairperson of the local Commerce and Industries Association, said prices of daily essentials went up substantially in the past two months and that the trend will continue until the vehicular movement is resumed.

He said though the Division Road Office in Dhankuta initiated to repair the road at the cost of Rs 10 million, it has not been effective. “Vehicular movement has not resumed as the road has not yet become motorable,” he said.