By Our Correspondent, Bhairahawa, Apr. 23: With the coronavirus ravaging various parts of India, the number of Nepalis returning to Nepal through the Belahiya border point in Rupandehi district has increased significantly. According to the Area Police Office, Belahiya, an average of 250 people are entering the country every day through the border point.

As per the data provided by the office, 3,219 Nepalis, including 955 women and 2,264 men, have entered the country through Belahiya till April 22.

Apart from this, there are no records of locals who travel to and from the nearby Indian markets every day for various purposes. They face no restrictions to go to India, they can go and come as they please, they shared with The Rising Nepal. 

Meanwhile, the District Administration Office (DAO) of Rupandehi claims that they have adopted a high level of vigilance at the border.

A temporary holding centre has been set up at the border while the building of the former immigration office has been turned into a checkpoint.

The DAO informed that the arriving Nepalis are kept in the holding centre and if they show fever then they are tested for antigens. So far, 116 antigen tests have been conducted and eight people have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Nevertheless, the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in the district.

Head of the District Public Health Office Rajendra Giri informed that the number of infections had gone up over the past week.