Birgunj/Patna: Widespread unrest in Nepal — including rioting, arson, and a major jailbreak — prompted Indian authorities to seal border entry points in seven Bihar districts on Wednesday. The move aimed to prevent large groups of people fleeing the violence from crossing into India, but it has also caused significant disruption to trade and daily life along the Indo-Nepal border.
Border crossings in West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, and Kishanganj were closed as chaos gripped Nepali towns like Birgunj and Biratnagar, where mobs torched public buildings, including border gates and the customs and revenue office in Rani, near Biratnagar.
Trade at a Standstill
The shutdown has severely impacted commercial activity. Over 12,000 goods-laden trucks and trailers en route to Nepal are stranded near key international crossings, including Raxaul (East Champaran), Jogbani (Araria), and Galgalia (Kishanganj). Long queues of vehicles formed within hours of the closures, especially along the busy Forbesganj-Jogbani highway.
The daily passenger train between Jaynagar (Madhubani) and Kurtha in Nepal — inaugurated in 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then-Nepalese PM Sher Bahadur Deuba — has also been suspended indefinitely.
Jailbreak and Security Concerns
Adding to the tension, reports emerged that around 500 prisoners escaped from a jail in Nepal’s Jaleshwar late Tuesday. The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) apprehended at least 10 of them, including two Indian nationals, raising fresh security concerns.
Impact on Border Economies
The economic fallout is immediate and severe. Daily trade in fish, milk, fruits, and vegetables from Bihar into Nepal has come to a halt. Mahesh Agrawal, secretary of Nepal-based Seema Jagaran Manch, said businesses on the Indian side are facing huge losses, with some traders now attempting to use rural border routes — risking arrest or violence.
Mohd Hayat, a trader from Jogbani, estimated losses at over ₹500 crore in just three days. “Nepali customers are our lifeline. With the gates shut, business has collapsed,” he said.
Around 300 daily-wage workers from East Champaran employed in industrial zones like Birgunj, Parwanipur, Kawaiya, and Semra have also lost access to their jobs overnight.
West Bengal Steps In for Stranded Tourists
Meanwhile, in West Bengal, where the border town of Mirik in Darjeeling lies less than 20 km from Nepal’s Pashupatinagar, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged stranded Indian tourists “not to act in haste.” The state government has launched efforts to bring them back safely, setting up helplines for returnees traveling through the Panitanki and Pashupati checkpoints.
