DHANGADHI: Locals in the Far-Western Region have been reeling under shortage of rice after food depots established in Bajhang, Darchula and Baitadi among other districts did not come into operation. Though the rice kept in the food depots at the district headquarters are in state of decaying, people in remote VDCs of the districts have no rice to eat. Food depots of Paribagar, Khandishwori, Sunsera were established in Darchula District. The depots which were closed during the decade-long Maoist insurgency have not opened yet. A food depot in Melbisauna of Bajhang has also remained closed. According to Dilli Raj Lamsal, Chief at the Nepal Food Corporation Seti Regional Office, Dhangadhi, people in remote VDCs of the districts have been starving after the food depots did not come into operation. “We don’t have enough staff to operate the depot,” he said. Melbisauni, Dantol, Kanda and Rilu of Bajhang district are facing shortage of food. It takes three days walk to reach the district headquarters. There are six VDCs in northern part of the district. Similarly, Paribagar, Khandeshwori, Sunsera and Baitadi of Darchula are also reeling under shortage of food, locals said. Sarad Raj Bista, Far-West Regional Administrator informed that his office has already directed Chief District Officers to supply food in the remote villages.