Since the end of the last fiscal, NFC has not supplied food grains to Sunsera, Khandeshwori and Paribagar depots in Darchula district. As a result, the depots have remained empty for months now.[break]
This has forced the villagers from Khalanga, Bramhadev, Dhari, Hikila, Sunsera, Dhaulakot, Huti, Rapla and Byans to go to nearby Indian towns to buy food grains, crossing the Mahakali River with the help of twin rope contraption as there is no bridge.
What´s worse, the Indian Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB) considers the use of twin rope contraption to cross the border an illegal act and has stepped up patrolling to prevent Nepalis from crossing the border.
To avoid encounters with SSB soldiers, villagers from Darchula cross the border stealthily in the wee hours.
"As soon as we reach India, we hide the rope used for crossing the river," said Dhauli Devi Dhami, a resident of Dhaulakot Syankhu. "If SSB soldiers get hold of us, they make sure that we are punished." Dhami was compelled to go to India as Sunsera food depot has remained empty for over three months.
Last month, two villagers, including a school girl, were killed after they fell into the river as the twin rope contraption they were using gave way. Jay Singh Lohar, a resident of Rapla village, fell into the river on September 22. Manju Dhami, a grade eight student of Sampal Secondary School in Sunsera, fell into the river the next week. Their bodies have not been found yet.
"Deaths by falling into the Mahakali river are not uncommon," Mohan Singh Dhami, a resident of Rapla Mal, said. "The government should either construct a bridge over the Mahakali river or a road that connects Darchula with the rest of the country."
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