As Nepal is reeling under severe shortage of petroleum products due to the unofficial border blockade imposed by India, 34 fuel tankers were allowed to enter Nepal through some of the border points on Thursday

Thirteen fuel tankers entered the country via Nepalgunj border point in Banke district, 18 tankers from Bhairahawa border in Rupandehi district, and three tankers travelled through Dhangadi customs point in Kailali district, customs officials said.

Meanwhile, Jamunaha Police Office in Banke district said that there are still 15 petrol tankers, 20 diesel tankers  and 21 gas bullets stranded on the Indian side at Rupaidiha town. Around 170 cargo trucks are also grounded across the border.

Shree Chandra Shrestha, chief of Nepal Oil Corporation’s Mid Western Regional Office in Nepalgunj, said the petroleum products that entered Nepal on Thursday are not sufficient to end the existing shortage across the country.  

Thirty cargo trucks, 32 pick-up vans laden with goods and 18 fuel tankers made their way into Nepal from Bhairahawa border point in Rupandehi district on Thursday. Chief District Officer Bishnu Prasad Dhakal said the Indian side permitted the vehicles to pass after the Nepali authorities assured to offer protection to the convoy.

Empty tankers stranded at Siliguri

KAKADBHITTA: Twenty empty fuel tankers are stranded at Siliguri depot of the Indian Oil Corporation for the past one week after the corporation instructed the depot against refilling the tankers. Mechi chief of Nepal Oil Corporation Kamalesh Acharya said the depot has denied filling the tankers, citing instruction from the top. The entire Mechi Zone is facing fuel shortage as a result.