RAMECHHAP: Service seekers are facing problem to have their official chores done after chiefs of almost all government offices here left the district en masse a few days ago. Chiefs of 20 government offices, along with Chief District Officer Jitendra Bahadur Bhandari, are now out of the district.

Those leaving their offices include LDO Dilip Kumar Chapagain, and the chiefs of Public Health Office, Survey Office, Drinking Water Office, Forest Office, Soil Conservation Office, Women Development Office, Livestock Office, Nepal Telecom and Nepal Electricity Authority, among others.

Those visiting the government offices in the district headquarters are on the receiving end of the officials' absence. Many people come here after covering long distance -- sometimes day-long walk -- from remote villages. What is worse, the acting chiefs have not been performing their duties satisfactorily. "There is no staffer even to receive my application at the District Development Committee. Tired and out, I returned home at 4 pm," lamented Tikaram Lama of Okreni VDC.