People in around 15 VDCs of Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum and Taplejung districts in the Guphapokhari-Chowki area have been compelled to use yaks and mules to transport essential goods due to the lack of a motorable road.

As the festive season has started, a long line of the animals can be seen carrying goods to remote villages in the area.

Locals said they still rely on the traditional mode of transportation as the construction of the 28 kilometre road connecting Basantapur-Gupha to Taplejung, which started almost 24 years ago, has not yet been completed.

Dil Bahadur Limbu of Sanghu in Taplejung said local people, including traders, have been using the animals to ferry food items like rice, salt, sugar, oil and beaten rice for Dashain.

Khem Prasad Bhattarai, a teacher at Sanghu, said people living in Nundhaki, Tamaphok, Madhimulkharka, Madirambeni, Sabhapokari VDCs in Sankhuwasabha, Shreejung, Morahang, Simle, Samdu, Sankranti VDCs in Tehrathum and Sanghu, Dhungesanghu, Phakumbha and Niguradin VDCs in Taplejung depend on mules and yaks for transportation. “They will have nothing to eat if animals are not available for transportation,” he said.

Neema Chhiri Sherpa of Tamrang in Taplejung said there are no males in the villages to carry foodstuffs whereas porters are also not available these days as they have gone abroad in search of employment opportunities.

Villagers, meanwhile, said they are facing problems as mule and yak owners charge exorbitant fare to ferry food and other essentials. “We are facing problems due to the absence of roadways,” said Pasang Sherpa of Nundhaki. Buddhi Karki, a teacher at Singheshwori Lower Secondary School in Madimulkahrka, said people will have many sources of income if the road is constructed.