Tuesday, Sep 16, 2025 17:45 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Sep 16, 2025 00:38 [IST]
SILIGURI, : After nine days of
closure due to GenZ protest in Nepal, the Indo-Nepal border has reopened for
both transportation and visitors, Darjeeling MP RajuBista announced on
Monday.
Bista
visited the Indo-Nepal border at Panitanki in the evening and held a meeting
that lasted about an hour with senior officials from the Police, SSB and
Customs departments. Following the discussions, he confirmed the reopening of
the border and added that it may take a couple of days for the situation to
return fully to normal.
He
emphasized that traders in Panitanki had been severely affected by the shutdown
and expressed hope that the reopening would help them recover some of their
losses ahead of Durga Puja. Deepak Chakraborty, general secretary of
PanitankiByabsayeeSamiti, had earlier submitted a deputation highlighting that
997 shopkeepers in the area had suffered losses of approximately Rs. 8-9
crore during the closure.
Across
the border in Kakarvitta, Nepal’s Armed Police Force has also begun permitting
Indian nationals to enter after verifying their documents. On the Indian side,
SSB personnel at Panitanki are recording details of all incoming visitors to
strengthen security in light of reports that escaped Nepalese prisoners might
be attempting to cross into India.
Vehicular
traffic between the two countries has also returned to normal.
