DHANKUTA: Passengers heading to Solukhumbhu, Khotang, Sankhuwasabha and Bhojpur have been stranded at Hile due to a blockade imposed by transportation workers.

The passengers have been confined in Hile Bazaar after no vehicles were allowed to ply on the highway. Workers affiliated to Nepal Transporter Independent Workers Association and Koshi Hilly Taxi Entrepreneurs have called for the strike yesterday.

Ganesh Thapa, Dhankuta chairman of the association, said they would continue protest until their colleagues were released. Transport workers had retaliated after Bindra Limbu, a motorcyclist thrashed a taxi driver Nagendra Khadka of Tumlingtar bound taxi four days ago. Police had detained five taxi entrepreneurs in connection with the incident.