Baitadi district is facing severe shortage of rice, lentils, salt, cooking oil and cooking gas among other things. Locals are struggling for their daily bread. "The main reason for the scarcity of food and other essentials is due to acute shortage of fuel," said Nara Bahadur Chand, the chairman of Baitadi chapter of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI).
"Trucks carrying goods meant for this district remain stranded in Dhangadhi in lack of fuel," he added.
Tari Dhami, a local of Gajari VDC, said consumers are forced to pay very high prices to buy goods of daily need. "There is hardly any food in stock in the markets. Even if we manage to find it, the price is very high. Prices differ from shop to shop," she added. Hence, locals are forced to cross the border and shop at nearby Indian markets for essentials, she said.
With the blockade already crossing two months now, prices of essentials have increased sharply -- by around 50 percent -- in the district headquarters and surrounding areas. Consumers have been paying Rs 120 for a packet of cooking oil which would cost Rs 80 before the blockade. Likewise, prices of noodles, fruits and vegetables among other things have also increased sharply, according to locals.
Similarly, Bajura district is also facing acute shortage of food items including sugar and cooking oil.
Consumers complained that shopkeepers have been arbitrarily hiking prices by taking advantage of the current situation. "But the authorities concerned have been turning a blind eye to the situation. They are indifferent to people's plight," said Gopal Thapa, a local.
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