Sankhuwasabha, Feb. 9 -- Nepali villagers, who live near the border with China and are dependent on Tibet for daily supplies, face a scarcity of essential goods as they have been denied access to the market across the border following the coronavirus scare.

Residents of Bhotkhola Rural Municipality, Sankhuwasabha, which takes five days to reach on foot from the district headquarters Khandbari-the area is not connected to the national road network, said Chinese authorities shut down the Kimathanka border crossing on January 19 without prior notice.

Only millet, maize and potato are grown in Bhotkhola, that too in small amounts. "The villagers consumed what they had for about 20 days. They could not stock up on essentials as the Chinese s...