India has expressed deep concern over violence in regions of Nepal bordering India.

Issuing a press statement on Monday, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has expressed concerns “over the incidents of violence resulting in death and

injury in regions of Nepal bordering India following the promulgation of Constitution yesterday”.

This is the second such statement from the ministry since the promulgation of Nepal’s new constitution on Sunday.

In its statement issued minutes after the constitution was promulgated on Sunday, India had merely ‘noted the promulgation of a constitution in Nepal’—stopping short of welcoming the new constitution. It had also expressed concern over protest and violence in several parts of Nepal bordering India.

But the second statement issued on Monday goes a step further, highlighting the problems faced by its freight companies and transporters due to the situation in Nepal.

“Our freight companies and transporters have also voiced complaints about the difficulties they are facing in movement within Nepal and their security concerns, due to the prevailing unrest,”  read the statement issued on Monday.

It added that “serious development in Tarai could have been avoided had Nepal’s political leadership heeded Indian calls”.

“We had repeatedly cautioned the political leadership of Nepal to take urgent steps to defuse the tension in these regions. This, if done in a timely manner, could have avoided these serious developments,” read the statement.

India also called for a consensus on political challenges facing Nepal.

A senior government official said they were closely following the statements made by the Indian side.