SIKKIM: Boulder hit stops border trade – Customs officials injured in Nathu-La

Gangtok, May 4: Forty-five Chinese traders from the Tibetan Autonomous Region today bought items worth Rs 2.5 lakh from the Sherathang mart, a day after trade through Nathu-la at 14,400ft was stalled because of boulders that came crashing down on a car and injured two Indian customs officials in it.

From the Indian side, 11 traders from Sikkim crossed the border and reached the Rinqingang trade mart in the TAR, around 30km from the international border.

The customs officials were heading towards the border pass in East Sikkim to supervise the trade when their vehicles were hit by boulders that slipped from the road above 13th Mile where widening work is being carried out by the Project Swastik of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

The incident occurred near Kyongsla on the 51km- long Jawaharlal Nehru Marg that connects Gangtok to Nathu-la.

Officially, the pass had opened yesterday and several Chinese traders had reached the international gate at 9am. But, like their Sikkim counterparts, they had to go back after havildar A.K. Dey suffered leg injuries and inspector Prashant Rasaily was hurt on the face by the falling boulders. Both officials had to return to Gangtok. Today, therefore, turned out to be the first day of the fifth edition of Nathu-la trade.

“Forty-five Chinese traders crossed the border in 11 vehicles and reached the Sherathang trade mart. They bought items like canned food, utensils and copper items worth around Rs 2.5 lakh. The Indian traders did not import anything,” said customs superintendent P.T. Bhutia.

The customs officer was worried about the state of Jawaharlal Nehru Marg especially at 13th Mile and near the border.

The road condition is scary and traders returning late in the afternoon could face problems if the vehicles get stuck in the slush,” said Bhutia.

“By the time we return, light fades and travelling along the slushy road is frightening,” he added. He said the BRO should station manpower and equipment along the vulnerable points even after working hours.

The BRO said it could not help much if the weather was inclement.

“We can’t help if the weather is bad but as soon as it clears up, the BRO teams stationed along the road remove the debris. Our manpower and dozers (bulldozers) are always available at the vulnerable points to clear the road,” said Project Swastik director (works) S.P. Sharma.

The BRO is engaged in double-laning Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, which is expected to cost Rs 495 crore. The project is slated to be completed by 2012.

source;the telegraph