Flooded roads force hundreds of truckers to halt en route Nepal

BALRAMPUR: Even as water level recedes on the Balrampur-Tulsipur-Barhni stretch on the state highway, transporters from all over the state and country have remained stuck for the past four days at a point where the road is lower than its normal level.
With floods ravaging all four tehsils of the district, traffic movement towards Nepal has come to a standstill.3-feet deep water held back trucks on August 14 at that low point and after that local administration stopped movement on the route, the only one that links Balrampur city to Nepal. Hundreds of trucks, including those transporting massive earth movers have lined up on both sides of the highway . With no arrangement to check the crisis, one has to pay through the nose for a cup of tea or eatables.
Balrampur district magistrate Rakesh Kumar Mishra and SP Pramod Kumar on Saturday went on PAC boats to take stock of the situation. “Trucks have been stopped for their safety as water is withdrawing. Traffic would be restored on Sunday morning,” said Mishra.
Similar situation has disrupted traffic at Kauwapur village because of another low-level road, 15 km ahead on the same route. DM and SP said no need was felt at present to take the help of army.
A transport company operator from Shamli district, Mohammad Sharafat got stranded on the intervening night of August 14 and 15. Carrying paper to Bharatpur city in Nepal, Sharafat said, “Roadside vendors are charging Rs 15 for a cup of tea and Rs 20 for one samosa. They are selling diesel and petrol at double the rate. We can’t go ahead as there is 3-feet deep water on the road.” Bijendra Singh and Bhola who runs a dhabha at Belha Mod on the route have reason to hike the prices. “Milk is not available and we have to buy it at a premium. Supply of food has been hit and besides we are not forcing anybody to buy snacks,” said Bijendra.