The mid and southern regions of Rautahat district have been reeling under acute shortage of petroleum and food products for the past one week due to general strike called by the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF). The strike has affected mostly local people and wage labourers. According to Shyam Tiwari, a transport worker bemoaned that he has been facing hardship to resolve hand-to-mouth problems following the general strike in the district. After the transportation stayed off the road following the strike, petrol pumps in JhunKhunawa, Rajpur Farahada, Gangapipara, Jethrahiya, Katahariya, Bankul, Maulapur, Samanpur and Garunda among other places of the district have been facing shortage of petroleum products. Local Sagar Yadav of Gaur Municipality lamented that he has not used his two-wheeler for the past one week due to shortage of petrol. Though diesel is used for irrigation as well as ploughing with tractor, farmers of the district have been hit hard during the pick season of cultivation due to shortage of diesel in the petrol pumps, local Bhusan Singh said. Ritesh Agrawal, a member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Rauthat chapter said that local entrepreneurs have been facing hefty loss after the transportation and market places remained closed due to the strike. Following the shortfall of petroleum and food products, locals have been forced to bring the essential goods from Bairaganiya of India.