Nepal will request India to airlift medicines when needed

New Delhi, Nov. 23 : Nepal ambassador to India Deep Upadhya, on Monday said that the country would request the Indian Government to airlift medicines to Nepal if need be, as parts of the country are reeling from an acute shortage of essential supplies.

“The US had also offered to help as far as medical supplies are concerned. And if need be, we will request the Indian government for it,” Upadhya said in an exclusive interview to ANI here.

“There are around 6,000 trucks stranded at Birgunj. If we reroute those trucks especially for hospital and petroleum supplies, then there probably will be no need for airlifts. These trucks can take a route from where there is no bloackade,” he added.

Upadhya asserted that there are problems in production of petroleum, adding that even schools and hospitals are closed in many areas.

The Nepal Government had been informed about the shortage of medicines and petroleum, he added.

“Around 2,000 cargo trucks should ideally go from India to Nepal and it was very much going. Since Madhesi protests started, the number of trucks reduced to 1100-1200,” the Nepalese ambassador said.

The Madhesis and other minority communities in Nepal have been protesting against the newly adopted constitution of Nepal.

High level talks are being held to resolve the issues around the constitution, according to the Nepalese envoy.

“There are ups and downs between India and Pakistan which have to be resolved. We can neither change our neighbours nor geographical terrain,” he added.

At least four people were killed in clashes between the Nepalese security forces and protesters in several parts of the eastern and central Tarai yesterday. Tarai is a region already reeling under an acute shortage of essential supplies.

At least 50 people, including nine security personnel have been killed in protests against the new constitution.

Earlier, a 19-year-old student from Darbhanga in Bihar was killed after Nepal police opened fire near the border to prevent Madhesi protesters from retaking a bridge that demarcates the Raxaul-Birgunj border between the two countries. (ANI)