Rubio arrives in Jeddah ahead of U.S.-Ukraine talks, expresses optimism for peace negotiations    Minister of Interior: Those 8 months led to a 'turning point' for Saudi women    Saudi justice minister calls for clear and consistent legal reasoning in rulings    Jeddah Historic District draws 1 million visitors in first week of Ramadan    Liquidity in Saudi economy records annual growth of SR236 billion in 2024    PIF launches Al Waha — the first Saudi-owned duty-free retail operator    GASTAT: Industrial production index rises 1.3% in January    Grand Mosque cleaning teams complete full sanitation in just 35 minutes    Romanian far-right presidential hopeful barred from poll rerun    Canada's next leader takes aim at Trump, vows to win trade war    Grown frustrated with the republic, many Nepalis want the monarchy back    Prince Frederik of Luxembourg dies from rare disease    Saudi Exchange approves Morgan Stanley Saudi Arabia as Market Maker on eight listed securities    Al Shabab stuns 10-man Al Nassr with late equalizer; Al Hilal closes gap at the top    Saudi taekwondo star Dunia Abu Talib wins IOC gender equality award for Asia    Kanté rescues Al Ittihad with last-gasp equalizer against Al Qadsiah    Mitrović returns to boost Al Hilal ahead of crucial clashes, Savić sidelined    Real-life shipwreck story wins major book award    Islamic Arts Biennale celebrates Ramadan with 'Biennale Nights' in Jeddah    Nora Razian and Sabih Ahmed appointed artistic directors for 2026 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Nepalis adapt to fuel shortage by carpooling, riding bikes
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 04 - 10 - 2015

KATHMANDU — India's unofficial blockade of Nepal has put a crunch on this Himalayan kingdom, with cars lining up for miles around gasoline stations, schools shutting down, vegetables in short supply and taxis charging four times the normal fare.
But Nepalis, whose lives were upended by a massive earthquake just a few months ago, know how to cope. In response to the fuel shortage, people are riding bikes to work, coordinating carpools on Facebook and offering lifts to strangers.
“At last, her big smile with her son made my day,” Garima Sapkota, who offered a ride to a woman who was late to pick up her son, wrote on the Facebook page Carpool Kathmandu, where hundreds of people have offered free rides, using the hashtags #offer and #ask.
While cars have dwindled on the streets, bicycle traffic and sales have increased in Kathmandu, Nepal's capital. “I left my motorcycle at home because I have no fuel,” said Hari Gopal Shrestha, an electrician who had peddled 5 km to get to his client's house. “It is very tiring and difficult, but I have to other option.”
Long lines of vehicles snaked around gasoline stations in Kathmandu amid fuel restrictions imposed by the government. Earlier in the week, the government announced that only vehicles for transport would get a rationed amount, while private vehicles would have to wait.
“I can drive only about 70 km with what I get. How can I make a living with that?” said taxi driver Bharat Prasad Nepal, who had been waiting in line for 27 hours.
The shortages, which extend to fresh produce and medicine, come after Indian trucks carrying goods stopped at the border. Nepal obtains most of its fuel and other vital supplies from India.
Many Nepalis believe that India has been retaliating against their government since Sept. 20, when it approved a new constitution seen by New Delhi as discriminatory to an ethnic Indian community — the Madhesi — living in Nepal's border districts.
Indian officials deny there is a blockade and say drivers are afraid to enter Nepal. Nepalese authorities say there is no trouble at many cross-border checkpoints.
Madhesis are upset that the constitution divides Nepal country into seven new states, with some borders slicing through their ancestral homeland in the southern plains.
Madhesis, along with several other small ethnic groups, also want the states to be larger and be given more autonomy over local matters. — AP


Clic here to read the story from its source.