"I don't know how many days I have to wait for petrol," complains a sick Ghimire in hoarse voice, courtesy to tonsillitis caused due to cold while waiting for his turn to fill petrol.Ghimire informed that he has already spent Rs 2,500 in meals at nearby hotels in the last seven days and has not returned to his rented room since he kept his taxi in the queue. Ghimire, a father of two, is worried how his family has been managing food.
Another taxi driver, Raju Raut, complains that he has not been able to run his taxi for the last 13 days. "I waited for seven days at Halchowk's petrol pump run by Armed Police Force (APF) but to no avail. Then I came here at Bhadrakali five days ago but even a drop of petrol remains elusive," said Raut.
Raut, whose taxi has been financed by a bank, fears he might lose his taxi if the ongoing situation persists any longer. "I have to pay Rs 25,000 in installment to the bank per month. How can I pay in this condition," he complained.
Raut held the government responsible for the plight of the common people. "Why doesn't the government initiate process to bring essential goods from China," he questioned.
Dhana Bahadur Sunwar, a micro bus driver along route number 23 in Kathmandu, said that the ongoing fuel crisis has ruined all his immediate plans. He complained that he has to wait in queue for fuel every alternate day.
"I have a six-month-old baby at home and we don't have gas to cook," he complained. Sunwar said that he and his wife have dropped the idea of visiting their home in Dashain.
"We had planned to go back to our village during Dashain, but how can we go in this situation," he questioned.
Sunita Thapa of Sindhuli, who runs a tea shop at Samakhushi, Kathmandu, said she has shut down her tea shop since the last four days due to shortage of cooking gas. Besides running out of business, Thapa, a mother of three, complained that she has not been able to cook food for her children.
"I have already received my children's school bills but I am not in a position to pay them. I have no idea how I am going to pay the rent of room and the shop and buy clothes for the children in this Dashain," she rued.
Thapa also expressed her resentment over the government for not taking adequate measures to bring fuel from China.
These are just few examples of the hardship faced by common people. Almost all the people have been bearing the brunt of the unofficial economic blockade imposed by India on Nepal for over two weeks.
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