Kathmandu. After India imposed an unannounced ban on Nepali tea exports, the tea industries of Elam and Jhapa have started to close down. 56 industries in Elam have already been closed, while more than 30 industries and about two dozen tea gardens in Jhapa have also been closed since Thursday.

According to the Nepal Tea Producers Association, the tea produced has been stored in warehouses due to the halt in exports. According to the association, the industry was forced to close after repeated requests to the government to solve the problem were not heard. Union president Aditya Parajuli has warned that the bandh program will continue until the obstruction imposed by India is removed.