Indefinite transport strike in eastern Nepal... Indian tourists forced to cancel tours

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, Siliguri, 9 Aug 2014: Thousands of Indian and Bangladeshi tourists have cancelled their bookings for a Nepal tour ever since the indefinite transport strike that began four days ago in the three zones of Mechi, Koshi and Sagarmatha of the neighbouring nation.

The strike has paralysed once of Nepal’s busiest border towns of Kakarvitta severely affecting business in Panitanki and Naxalbari in India. The strike ensued after a tussle between two transport unions of eastern Nepal.

Police have used batons and injured some agitators after the latter damaged five buses being run by the newly-formed transport union, Ujyalo Bus Entrepreneurs' Association. UBEO and the older Mechi Transport Entrepreneurs' Association are at loggerheads after the latter protested against the official approval granted to the new association.

Trouble started brewing Tuesday afternoon around 4am after some members of the Transport Entrepreneurs’ Committee of Koshi zone flattened the tyres of a passenger bus (NA 5 KHA 1225) owned by Miteri Yatayat Pvt Ltd in Dharan. The bus was heading towards Tehrathum from Kathmandu.

Kakarvitta has worn a deserted look over the last four days as no public transport plied on the roads. Passengers were afraid to hire taxis and the most to benefit from the strike are cycle rickshaw pullers.

Ran Bahadur Thapa of Gadagali in eastern Nepal was not able to visit his ailing relative admitted at Ghopa Camp Hospital in Dharan.

Association for Conservation of Tourism (ACT) convener Raj Basu said, “The Indian prime minister’s recent visit to Kathmandu and his message to make the country rich by promoting tourism will have a very adverse affect if such uncertain strikes increase in frequency.”