BHOJPUR: People of eastern hilly district of Bhojpur are forced to charter helicopters by paying a high amount owing to irregular airplane services and low quality of road transportation, after the beginning of monsoon season.

Earlier, Bhojpur locals would witness helicopters only during arrival of ministers, high government officials and Nepal Army personnel. But now, a sound of helicopter hint locals that someone is sick in the village. The reason: People do not have any option than to charter a chopper if they have to rush their critical patients to other parts of the nation.

According to local Kajiman Rai, the 22-km stretch in the district along the Hile-Bhojpur road is muddy, so people have not any alternative than to walk in order to reach rural parts of the district.

The Nepal Airlines Cooperation (NAC) and the Tara Air have irregular flights due to fluctuating weather in the monsoon season, adding more problems to the people.

NAC District Head Narayan Puri informed that the Corporation has arranged two flights to Biratanagar and four to Kathmandu from Biratnagar in a week. But, the schedule is frequently obstructed due to the weather in this season, he added.

Arjun Basne of Chinamuna VDC informed that lack of quality health facilities and equipment in the district have compelled locals to move toward other places for treatment.

Another local Nabin Pradhan informed that the irregular flight schedules and muddy roads have caused the poor people to hire the helicopters, which sometimes may be out of their capacity,

Even to hire the choppers, they have to flatter ministers and political leaders, adding to woes of rural people, locals lamented.

The Bhojpur denizens have to pay up to Rs 200,000 to hire a helicopter.

Local Sita Karki informed regular road transportation and airplanes can only help the poor people to get treatment on time.

The District Health Hospital with 50 beds is under construction with an aim to complete the task within three years.