BIRGUNJ: Some 200 trucks stranded in Birgunj due to the ongoing curfew were escorted to their destinations including the Capital this morning.

The local administration had imposed the curfew and declared some areas of the border town as riot-hit areas after violent clashes took place between demonstrators and police on Monday.

Security personnel escorted the vehicles, mostly carrying imported goods, towards safer locations in the district, according to Chief District Officer Keshav Raj Ghimire.

Daily public life in the district had already been severely hit by the bandh enforced by the Madhesh-centric parties for the past 18 days.

The declaration of the curfew and riot-hit areas has further worsened the situation of this industrial town.

The Birgjung-Pathalaiya industrial corridor has already reported a loss of more than 10 billion rupees, according to the Birgunj Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

A single day bandh invites a loss of Rs. 560 million, said the Chamber President Pradip Kedia.

There are more than 1,000 small and big industries in the corridor, providing direct employment to around 20,000 workers.