Tapleung, February 5: The Taplejung-based Olangchungola border checkpoint has been closed for an indefinite period at the request of the local administration of China. People’s mobility through the border checkpoint is restricted due to the possible outbreak of coronavirus infection. Bearing in mind the possible spread of coronavirus infection in neighboring countries, the authorities have banned people’s mobility in and around the transit point. China has been struggling to contain the outbreak of the viral infection.
Ward chairperson of Faktanglung rural municipality-7, Olangchungola, Chheten Sherpa informed that the Reu administration of Tibet, China on January 30 had requested to forbid people’s movement to the zone for some days. He also shared that the Chinese administration urged the Nepali side to ban mobility in the zone immediately after the return of the Chinese workers’ team which was working in road construction in Nepal.
Chairperson Sherpa further said, “The Reu administration requested us to disallow the people’s movement through the checkpoint for some days in order to avert the possible outbreak of infectious coronavirus. There is no people’s mobility along the area right now”. “Shutdown of transit point operation and people’s mobility for 1-2 months would not be a trouble.
However, the daily life of local folks would be complicated if it goes long”, Sherpa added. Locals from Yangma, Thudam, Olangchungola, and Tokpegala rely on the local Chinese market for daily essential goods especially during the rainy
