Biratnagar, February 24:

The ongoing Tarai agitation has resulted in shortage of consumer goods in the hilly districts of the eastern region, affecting normal life.

Panchthar, Taplejung, Ilam, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Khotang, Solukhumbhu and Okhaldhunga districts have been facing scarcity of rice, oil, pulses, sugar, salt and petroleum products. Consequently their prices have also gone up.

“Due to the difficulty in supplying foodstuff in the hilly districts, lives of general public have been affected,” chairman of the Panchthar chapter of Commerce Association, Mitra Kafle, said.

Meanwhile, consumer goods are being supplied to Dhankuta and Tehrathum under police escort. “Bhojpur and Sankhuwasabha would not face crisis of consumer goods as the districts have stock for a month,” chief at Nepal Food Corporation zonal office in Biratnagar, Purna Shankar BC, said. Though consumer goods were being supplied to Khotang from Gaighat of Udayapur and to Okhaldhunga from Katari, supply has been hit for two

weeks. “Foodstuff could not be supplied due to lack of petroleum products,” Udayapur CDO Dalluraj Basnet said.

Food supply has also been hit in Tarai districts, including Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Siraha and

Saptari.