Kathamndu May 15.

Fencing works have begun along the Nepal-India border in Mahottari after people continue to sneak into the country amidst the heightened risk of COVID-19. According to the District Administration Office, Mahottari, building a fence has begun to put restrictions on people’s movement inside 38.6-km area adjoining to the India border. Though security force has been mobilised along the border points to avoid the people’s entry during lockdown against COVID-19 crisis, people continue to enter the country covertly this or that way, prompting the district administration to take additional measures. The district shares border with India at six points: Matihani, Jaleshwor, Manrashishawa, Ekarda, Samsi and Sonama. They share borders with Madhubani and Sitamarhi districts in India. ”There are news reports that COVID-19 cases are on the rise in Madhubani and Sitamarhi and with the decision of India to resume railway services, the number of people entering the country covertly amidst the lockdown increases,” said Mahottari Chief District Officer Surya Bahadur Khatri. This temporary fencing is expected to control the people’s movement during the crisis, according to him. The district administration has said that security patrol has been stepped along with the setup of barricade along the border area. Some of the infected people lately found in Mahottari and Dhanusha were said to have sneaked into Nepali territory from Madhubani and Sitamarhi of India. It was easier for people to covertly enter Nepal due to connected human settlements in border area, double social and cultural ties and dense garden sharing territory of both Nepal and India. The cadres of political parties and social development organizations admitted that though it was required to sensitize people in Nepali settlement about possible entrance of people from Indian side and promptly bring the suspects to quarantine, this sensitive aspect has been ignored and the problem is continuing to exis