SINDHUPALCHOWK: Tatopani checkpoint has been closed again after flood and landslide following incessant rainfall encroached the Araniko highway from Jure to Tatopani.

Repair and maintenance of the encroached road section of the Araniko Highway have not been carried out as the Department of Roads did not pay attention to it.

Tatopani checkpoint closed from January 27, 2020, due to coronavirus infection in China, had come into operation again from March 29. Goods worth millions of rupees brought through Tatopani checkpoint have been stuck at Tatopani.

Chief of Tatopani Dry Port Customs Office, Lal Bahadur Khatri, said that import of goods via the checkpoint has been completely closed. As per the data of the Customs Office, goods worth Rs 9 billion were imported through the Tatopani checkpoint in these nine months.

The goods worth around Rs 60 million have been stuck at Tatopani border point that includes health supplies, readymade clothes and agro products.

Mayor of Bahrabise municipality, Nimphunjo Sherpa said that though the activities were carried out to repair and maintenance of the damaged road by bringing an excavator from Road Office, Charikot, the problem has now been surfaced after the excavator went dysfunctional.

People doing business at Tatopani checkpoint area themselves have been using excavator after Road Office did not carry out repair and maintenance works of the damaged road in an effective manner.

Mayor Sherpa complained that though the Bahrabise municipality had tried to carry out repair and maintenance works of the damaged road, Road Office, Charikot, did not support them in this act.