Bajura, September 6 

The locals of Bajura have been facing food crisis after transport service was obstructed for the past two months due to landslides along the Sanphe-Martadi road section in the district.

The stock of rice at Nepal Food Corporation, Bajura depot is running out and supply has been disrupted. NFC Bajura Chief Meghraj Ojha said that 250 quintal rice was finished a few days ago.

District Administration Office, Bajura, has decided to offer 20 kg rice to each household after the crisis was foreseen. “There is no rice in the depot,” Ojha said.

He said the depot was empty after the allocated rice for 2074-75 fiscal did not reach the destination. According to Ojha, a new contract for this fiscal is yet to be signed. Businessmen would have brought the needed rice if the road network was functional,” he added.

Local businessmen could not supply rice due to damaged roads in many places.

Bajura Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chair Deb Bahadur Rokaya said the obstructed roads had created problems. He said only well-off people could sustain their lives as they had bought the rice even at expensive rates. “The poor people are compelled to sleep with empty stomach,” he added.

Rokaya said the shortage of daily essentials also had affected the district headquarters.

The shortage of food has hit Badimalika Municipality, Gaumul Rural Municipality, Budhinanda Municipality, Jagannath Rural Municipality, Swamikartik Rural Municipality and Himali Rural Municipality.

Chief District Officer Chet Raj Baral said food crisis occurred after four kilometres road stretch was damaged completely due to rainfall and landslides. He added that it would take two more weeks to repair the Sanhpe-Martadi road section.