Sankhuwasabha, July 11:

The Kimathanka checkpoint was reopened yesterday for three days. The checkpoint, which lies on the Nepal-China border in Sankhuwasabha district, had been closed since May 22 in connection with the 29th Olympic Games, which are going to be held in China from August 8.

As people were finding it difficult to purchase food and other essentials due to the closure of the checkpoint, an agreement was made with Chinese security personnel to open the checkpoint for three days (till July 13) starting yesterday, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Sankhuwasabha District Police Office Surya Prasad Upadhayay said.

Representatives of the Chinese border security force and sub- inspector of the Kimathanka police post, Lok Bahadur Thapa, signed the agreement, Upadhyaya said.

People of Kimathanka, Chepua, Hatiya and Pawakhola VDCs, who used to purchase food and essentials from Riu and Dedang of China, had been facing an acute shortage of food due to the closure of the checkpoint. These VDCs are a seven-day walk from Khandbari.