More than 2,200 quintals of food air transported to Humla

By Our Correspondent Humla, May 21: More than 2,200 quintals of food grains of the Food Management and Trading Company Limited have been transported to Humla by helicopter.

The food grains are being transported by helicopter after the private airlines denied transporting the food grains from Nepalgunj and Surkhet.

According to FMTC Humla branch chief Krishna Prasad Acharya, 2,287 quintals of food grains have been transported by helicopter as of Thursday.

Mountain Air helicopter has been transporting the food to Simkot, the district headquarters, from Salisalla of the district. 

Air Simrik, which is in charge of transporting food grains from Nepalgunj and Surkhet, has been transporting foods to Salisalla of Humla by trucks.

Food is being transported by helicopter as the district headquarters is not linked with road from Salisalla.

He said that there would have been a food crisis in the district had the helicopter not started transporting the food. 

He said that the situation of food stockpile in the district was satisfactory after the helicopter started transporting it.

Helicopter reaches the district headquarters carrying food from Salisalla in 12 minutes.

Six quintals of food grains are transported per flight. According to the branch, food is being transported by 20 flights a day when the weather is favourable. Food is being transported from 6 am to 6:30 pm every day.

The helicopter has been transporting food grains at Rs. 100 per kg while Air Simrik Private Limited had signed an agreement with the FMTC to transport food grains from Nepalganj at Rs. 108 per kg and from Surkhet at Rs. 105 per kg.

This year, the FMTC has fixed to transport 6,000 quintals of food from Surkhet and 4,000 quintals from Nepalgunj for the FMTC branch office Humla via air. 

The private airlines have already transported 4,289 quintals of food grains from Nepalgunj and Surkhet. Helicopters will now transport the remaining food grains.