There is no strictness at the border to prevent Mpox

Even the normal check of the entry through the western border Gaddachouki has not been done. People coming in from India often do not even reach the health desk. "We are screening, but some go without coming," said Sunita Vick, staff nurse at the health desk in Gaddachouki, "30/40 people are being screened daily." Maitri bus service is also operating from Mahendranagar to Delhi and Dehradun from this point. Around a dozen bus passengers have entered without being checked.

Some passengers are coming here from third countries through Delhi airport. Because of this, the risk is high, so there is a need to tighten the check at the checkpoint. "There has been a circular for screening at the checkpoint, we are doing it accordingly," said Premsingh Bhandari, head of the health desk, "those with fever and blisters on the body should be kept under surveillance." Bhandari said that even if suspected patients come, they do not have the necessary resources for testing. Therefore, he said, it is a situation that needs to be identified by looking at it. He said that it will be easy if the kit and necessary materials for testing come.

District Health Office Kanchanpur Information Officer Siddharaj Bhatta said that there is a circular to carry out necessary activities in coordination with the local level and district administration for the prevention of Mpox. He said that the coordination is being done according to the circular from the Ministry of Social Development of the province. "Screening and examination are also being done at the checkpoints," said Bhatt, "coordination is also being done to take precautions for prevention." He said that the health office is coordinating with the local level and district administration.

Returning from abroad to celebrate Gaura

With Gaura, the main festival of the Far West, there has been an increase in traffic at the border. Those who have gone out for work and studies for the past week have started returning after taking the opportunity of Gaura.

As people who have gone abroad are returning home for the Gaura Festival, which starts on Friday, the border has become crowded. About a dozen border crossings in the district are connected to India. Vivek Bhatt of Mahakali Municipality-3 said that the flow of people at the border has increased day by day. Those who go to the big cities of India for employment return home after one or two years after adjusting the festival time. Those who have gone to work after farming work also come home to celebrate Chand.

During the main festival of Gaura, which is celebrated for a week, it is customary for all members of the family to sit together and celebrate. Surendra Bahadur Bam of Duhun Rural Municipality-3 said that it is customary for relatives to visit their homes on Gaura rather than Dasaintihar. According to the district police office, the traffic has also increased at the Pulghat located at Khalanga, the main checkpoint of the district.

People who have migrated to Terai and other cities for this festival which is celebrated on Bhadra Shukla or Krishna side, also return to their ancestral home. Ram Dutt Joshi, Principal of Mahendra Secondary School said that Gaura is celebrated as a festival of social harmony.

Most of the men from rural areas here go to India to work as wage earners after planting corn and rice. After spending two to three months in India doing construction work, heavy lifting, etc., they come home to celebrate the festival.