Wednesday, March 15 2006 13:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: The Maoist blockade of highways connecting Kathmandu valley and district headquarters in Nepal continued for the second day today(Mar 15,2006) leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and prices of essential commodities skyrocketing here.

Major highways, including Prithvi Highway, Tribhuvan Highway and Araniko Highway, connecting Kathmandu with other districts have been deserted with only a few vehicles moving to and from the capital amid tight security.

Several passengers in the capital were forced to cancel their trips even as government has ordered troops to patrol key highways to foil the blockade.

In the main fruits and vegetable Market at Kalimati here, only four truckloads of vegetables, fruits and other essential commodities arrived last night, an official said.

The truck owners are charging many times more than the normal rate for transporting goods from one place to another, he said.

The prices of many vegetable have increased by 50 per cent to 100 per cent with shortage of supply despite Home Minister Kamal Thapa's claim that the Government has enough of food stuff and petroleum products to fulfill the demands of 1.5 million people residing in Kathmandu valley.

The pro-democracy political parties, including Nepali Congress and Nepal Communist Party-UML, have asked the Maoists to call off their blockade and bandh considering its adverse impact on public life.