Lines stretch for kilometres as Nepal's fuel crisis eases
Trucks carrying fuel enter the country for the first time in weeks as Indian drivers make shipments halted by protest over constitution
Nepal's fuel crisis has eased slightly after the Himalayan nation began issuing fuel for private vehicles while also reopening a northern border crossing with China that had been damaged by April's devastating earthquake.
Lines of cars and motorcycles stretched for kilometres from fuel pumps in Kathmandu, as people rushed to fill up before the Hindu festival of Dasain, the country's biggest holiday. The government said it was only allowing a one-time sale of 15 litres per vehicle until the fuel shortage is over.
Meanwhile on the southern border, where supplies have been blocked for weeks by protests, 101 trucks including 63 carrying some type of fuel crossed on Tuesday at the Jogbani border crossing, police official Pramod Kharel said. It was the biggest fuel shipment into Nepal in more than two weeks.
Nepal has been hobbled by the fuel crisis, which started when Indian trucks began halting at the border after Nepal adopted a new constitution. The constitution angered ethnic Madhesi groups, who are now demanding it be amended.
Nepal quickly accused India of imposing a blockade to force the government to meet the demands of Madhesis, who have close ties in India.
India denies there is any official blockade, saying truckers are simply afraid to cross into areas of protest. It has not explained why truckers were not afraid when the groups were protesting for weeks before the constitution was adopted.