December 5, 2024, Thursday
Nepal 1:37:26 pm

Security tightens in southern border as the omicron virus detected

The Nepal Weekly
December 21, 2021

, Bhairahawa – Vigilance has been intensified at the Jamunah checkpoint in Nepalgunj after a new variant of coronavirus Omicron was detected in neighbouring India. The Department of Health Services has directed the security personnel to increase vigilance at the southern border.

Security personnel of both the countries along the Nepal-India border have tightened security after a new variant of Coronavirus was found in some Indian states. “Only those with an antigen report will be allowed to enter Nepal. Those who do not have an antigen will be sent to the health desk for corona screening,” said Min Bahadur Bista, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DI) in-charge of the Area Police Office, Jamunah

Now a days around 200 Nepalis have been reportedly returning home daily from Nepalgunj. However, this number is higher than before. According to Health desk in-charge Geeta Giri Shahi, even though only one person in the group was checked earlier, they have started checking all of them lately. “It is difficult to manage a crowd when many people come together,” she said.

Now, card and proof of vaccination against covid has been made mandatory on arrival of third country nationals. Armed Police Inspector Krishna Prasad Aryal of the Armed Police Force Danda BOP said that a report of PCR test within 72 hours has been made mandatory for every Nepali citizen who has returned to Nepal after a long stay in India. “Passengers who do not have a PCR report are being screened and tested at the border,” he said.

Chief District Officer of Rupandehi Rishi Ram Tiwari said that special vigilance and vigilance has been adopted in the arrival of foreign nationals. “The arrival of foreign nationals is being monitored with special priority,” he said, adding that “restrictions on the entry of citizens of some countries have been strictly adhered to.”