Following the Panchayat Election in Jalpaiguri district under West Bengal, India, the border gate in Phuentsholing will remain closed to traffic for 36 hours after 6 pm today.
The decision comes after the Phuentsholing dungkhag office received a letter from the office of the Jalpaiguri district magistrate seeking assistance from Bhutan on movement of Bhutanese inside the district on the Poll day, tomorrow. Bhutanese, especially those travelling to places like Lhamoizingkha, Gelephu, Nganglam and Samdrupjongkhar, have to pass via Jalpiaiguri district. Jalpaiguri district is about four hours drive from Phuentsholing.
The dungkhag has also decided that no person, including even those Bhutanese living across the border, will be allowed inside during the sealed period.