Six districts in the Janakpur Zone are reeling under an acute shortage of medicines including the life saving drugs due to an indefinite banda (shutdown) called by various groups in the Tarai.

Shambhu Prasad Bhattarai, vice chairman of the Chemists and Druggists Association (DEA), Mahottari said that districts like Sarlahi, Mahottari, Sindhuli, Dhanusa, Ramechhap and Dolakha are facing an acute shortage of the medicines.

He said that mainly the medicines required by the blood pressure, diabetes and heart patients are in short supply in particular.

"My pharmacy lacks medicines including life saving drugs for past one week," said Mandira Bhattarai, who runs a drug store in Bardibas in Mahottari.

She added that 100 patients of pressure and diabetes visiting her pharmacy on a daily basis were forced to return empty handed in lack of medicines.

Naresh Prasad Gupta, proprietor of Nishanta Pharmacy, in Gaushala, Mahottari, said that his medical store lacks saline solution too for the past 15 days, adding that store of other types of medicines is also depleting fast.

The Tarai districts have been shut for the past 40 days due to the agitation, halting the supply of medicines and daily essentials and affecting locals in various ways.

The drug entrepreneurs said that the supply of medicines has been affected due to the road blockade in main transit points in areas including Birgunj and Bhairahawa, causing the shortage. Most of the medicines are supplied from India, it is said.

"The road has been obstructed for long, thus halting the supply. It is impossible to supply the medicines by air as planes are reluctant to ferry medicines due to its full bookings," said Ganesh Prasad Sah, chairman of the DEA.

Dipendra Parajuli, chairman of the National Consumers Forum, said that medicines are very sensitive and essential things to save human life, stressing the need to make environment conducive for smooth supply.