Kapilvastu, September 29:

Thousands of passengers were stranded in Chandrauta as vehicles did not ply the Kapilvastu section of Mahendra Highway, while scores of vehicles got stuck in Rupandehi and Dang districts as riot-displaced people and entrepreneurs, putting forth a five-point charter of demands, enforced a Kapilvastu bandh from today.

Coordinator of the displaced people’s struggle committee Keshav Pandey said they submitted a five-point memorandum to the administration and warned that the bandh will continue till their demands are met. The memorandum has sought action against the guilty, rehabilitation of the displaced, guarantee of security, a probe into the Kapilvastu rioting by an investigation commission and compensation for those whose properties were destroyed. Acting CDO Beni Madhav Gyawali told this daily that the demands of the aggrieved people have been conveyed to the Home Ministry.

Meanwhile, woes of the displaced people living in camps increased after river water swamped the camps. Camp-dwellers said pneumonia has gripped many children and senior citizens. Many camp-dwellers are afflicted with dysentery, diarrhoea, cough, cold and fever.

District public health office chief Dr Altaf Hussain said many in the camp were suffering from high blood pressure.