KATHMANDU: The Nepal-India border crossings in Baitadi and Darchula districts will be temporarily closed on July 24 and July 28 due to the panchayat elections in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, officials said on Wednesday.
The elections are scheduled to take place in two phases on those dates.
Baitadi Chief District Officer Punya Bikram Poudel stated that the closures are aimed at ensuring security and maintaining law and order in the border areas during the election period.
Although the official closure dates are July 24 and 28, additional restrictions will apply around those days. The Pulghat checkpoint in Darchula will be closed from the evening of July 21 until the morning of July 24, while the Jhulaghat checkpoint in Baitadi will be shut from the evening of July 25 until the morning of July 28.
Poudel added that in case of emergencies, the checkpoints may be opened temporarily through mutual coordination between authorities of both countries.
