PATHARI: The bandh announced by the Samyukta Madhesi Morcha has left more than 100,000 labourers in the around 500 industries in the Morang-Sunsari Industrial Corridor out of work. As the bandh enforcers have not allowed the industries to run, the workers have been left unemployed, according to Morang Industry Association. Hence, the industries have not been able to even export the final products, while imported raw materials have been left stranded in the customs. The bandh and its impact on the industries are taking a huge toll especially on the daily wage labourers, says Sitaram Chaudhary, an industrial worker. The tourism, education, health, transport and other sectors too have been suffering due tothe bandh. Schools, hotels, hospitals and government offices too have been wearing a deserted look since the past few days. The industries have been suffering a daily loss of around Rs 150 million considering the salary of the workers and staff, bank interest and storage fee at the customs, says Executive Secretary of the Association Somnath Adhikari. — RSS

Containers stranded

LUMBINI: Over 1,000 goods-laden containers en route to Nepal from India have been stranded at Belahiya of India, near the Bhairahawa Customs Point, following the prolonged Tarai bandh (shutdown). The bandh has been enforced by the parties unhappy with the proposals for the new constitution. The bandh since the past 15 days has thrown public life out of gear. The containers which arrived from various towns in India have been grounded near the second largest customs point of the country, causing losses of millions of rupees to the customs office. The revenue

collection by the Bhairahawa Customs Office which at normal times stood at around Rs 90 million a day, has now decreased to Rs 30 million, as per Bhairahawa Customs Officiating Chief Parbati Raman Dahal. Normally, motorcycles, marble, clinker and petroleum products are imported to Nepal via the Bhairahawa Customs Office. — RSS

Vodafone in 4G race

MUMBAI: Vodafone India said on Friday it would launch fourth-generation (4G) mobile phone services in the country by the end of the year, joining rival Bharti Airtel in offering faster data services. India’s telecommunications market is bracing for heated competition from Reliance Jio, the telecoms unit of conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd, as it prepares to offer 4G services starting in December. Mobile phone carriers in India, the world’s second-biggest market by number of customers, have spent billions of dollars on buying telecom airwaves to meet surging demand for data services. Vodafone India acquired additional 4G spectrum in five circles in the country, in the February 2014 auctions. — Reuters

ACL profit leaps

SHANGHAI: Air China Ltd (ACL), the country’s flag carrier, said its net profit surged more than 720 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2015, supported by lower fuel prices. The company made net profits of 4.19 billion yuan ($655 million) in the first half, up strongly from 510.37 million yuan in the same period last year, it said in a statement filed to the Hong Kong stock exchange late Thursday. “The global aviation industry was generally healthy with sustained growth in demand and relatively low fuel prices,” Air China said, adding a recovery in the world economy and a ‘steady’ Chinese economy supported the company. — AFP