Uttarakhand traders’ call to open Nepal bridge

Traders in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district have been holding protests demanding the reopening of a border bridge so that they can resume business in Nepal.

The suspension bridge over the Kali river that links Dharchula town in Uttarakhand to Darchula town in Nepal’s Sudurpashchim Pradesh is closed since the coronavirus-induced lockdown began on March 25. Indian traders, who have shops selling garments, jewellery and coffee in the Nepal town, used to take the bridge to travel to and fro every day.

Although the lockdown has been lifted, the bridge has not been reopened, halting business and causing mounting losses to the Indian traders.