Maharajganj/Kushinagar (UP), Aug 28: Flash floods in Nepal have disrupted cross-border trade with India, with damaged and flooded roads affecting the movement of cargo vehicles heading to Kathmandu and other parts of the neighbouring country through Uttar Pradesh's Maharajganj district.
Around 16 km of cargo trucks have been stranded on the Indian side of the Sonauli border in Maharajganj as they wait to enter Nepal. Vehicles bound for Kathmandu as well as other destinations are facing delays due to disruptions on several routes.
The queue has stretched towards Nautanwa, raising concerns over traffic congestion on the national highway. Police and security agencies are closely monitoring the situation and regulating the movement of vehicles.
Circle Officer Basant Singh said surveillance at the Sonauli border had been intensified and police station heads in border areas had been directed to remain alert.
Officials said the situation could worsen if road connectivity in Nepal is not restored soon, potentially affecting the movement and supply of goods between the two countries.
The floods have also affected residents of Maharajganj working in Nepal.
Raj Kumar Gautam, a resident of Jagarnathpur village, is returning home after escaping the flood-hit areas of Nepal, where he had been working as a furniture worker in Kathmandu for nearly a year.
Gautam told his family over the phone that the situation was frightening, with several families devastated and people struggling to reach safer locations amid panic and chaos.
His daughter Ankita said she spoke to him around 4 pm on Thursday, when he informed her that he was returning home by bus through Bihar.
Gautam is the sole earning member of his family and supports the livelihood and education of his children.
Meanwhile, authorities in neighbouring Kushinagar have intensified vigilance along the 17.5-km embankment between Narwajot and Ahirauli.
Revenue, police and flood-control teams are monitoring vulnerable stretches, while vigilance has been increased in riverside villages. Additional District Magistrate Vaibhav Mishra said authorities were keeping a close watch on the situation.
Residents near Chhitauni and Valmikinagar reported seeing household belongings, including a gas cylinder, bed and refrigerator, being swept away by strong currents. Some locals managed to retrieve the items from the water.
NDRF and SDRF teams continue to remain deployed in affected villages, while PAC and water police personnel have also been placed on alert. Authorities are also closely monitoring other seasonal rivers and water channels in the region.
