Kapilvastu, September 29:

Twenty-five staffers of the Krishnanagar Customs Office (KCO) have remained absent for the past two weeks, bringing export and import of goods through the Krishnanagar checkpoint to a halt. All staffers of the office, save two peons, have remained absent after the Kapilvastu rioting.

Businessmen said they have not been able to import goods due to the closure of the KCO. Over 2000 loaded vehicles are stranded at Badani in India, chairman of the Krishnanagar Chamber of Commerce and Industries Bijaya Kumar Kanaudiya said.