Biratnagar, April 11:

At least 400 cargo trucks are stranded at Bathnaha road in Farbesgunj, India, due to the ongoing general strike called by the seven-party alliance. They are supposed to enter Nepal through the Biratnagar customs point, which is 6 km from Bathnaha village.

Vice-chairman of the Customs Services Federation, eastern chapter, Pravin Joshi, said the trucks contain raw materials meant for various industries. The Customs Services Federation has stated that no truck has entered Nepal through Biratnagar customs point since April 6. The stranded trucks include 118 tankers of the Nepal Oil Corporation carrying kerosene, diesel, petrol and LPG, CSF adds. The concerned entrepreneurs have put the value of the goods contained in the trucks from Rs 250 million to Rs 350 million.

District chairman of the CSF, Bharat Bhattarai, said a container consisting of animal skin valued at Rs 2 million belonging to the Nepal Trading Industries, which is meant for export to Italy, is decaying and may be rendered useless. The Biratnagar customs point is widely used for importing industrial raw materials and machine spare parts from India and third countries.

Meanwhile, CSF agents and representatives held a pen down strike in the customs office branches today in support of the seven-party agitation. The strike was meant to hit revenue collection. Chief of the Biratnagar customs office, Hari Sharan Pudasaini, said the revenue collection was lower than other days. Biratnagar customs office collects Rs 10 million to Rs 15 million in revenue daily.

A CSF press release stated that two-hour pen down strike will be held daily till the democratic stir attains its goals.