While
Medhesis
(Indians settled in Nepal) caste their vote freely at various booths in Maharajganj district, foreigners travelling from India to Nepal had a harrowing experience on the border.
As announced by DGP GL Sharma the border was sealed and Shashastra Suraksha Bal (SSB) jawans maintained a strict vigil on the border to check the entry of anti-social elements.
Madge Maurrison and Tony, both residents of Sydney said they were on way to Pokhra from New Delhi and the Tourism Department had informed them that there would be no problem but security forces did not allow them to cross the border.
"The SSB officer told us that the border would be opened at 5 pm after the polling ends," Maurrison said adding he would take up the case with the Australian High Commission. Complaints of Ricki, resident of New Zealand and Peter Davidson, resident of South Africa, were no different.
"We are coming from Varanasi and are on way to Kathmandu. The hotels here are closed and there is no place to rest, they said. However, there was some respite for the tourists stuck on the border. Brij Kishore Gupta, who runs a school here, had converted it into a make shift guesthouse and served meal to the stranded people. About one thousand people stayed there till the polling was over."
"We are coming from Varanasi and are on way to Kathmandu. The hotels here are closed and there is no place to rest, they said. However, there was some respite for the tourists stuck on the border. Brij Kishore Gupta, who runs a school here, had converted it into a make shift guesthouse and served meal to the stranded people. About one thousand people stayed there till the polling was over."
The scene across the border on Nepal side was no different. A large number of tourists from Japan, Thailand and Malaysia were stuck on the Belahia barrier (Nepal).