Some local youths in Humla district headquarters Simikot have protested the transport of food items here fearing that such activities could put them at risk of infection of COVID-19.

As the country has gone into lockdown since March 24 to prevent and control outbreak of COVID-19, the locals here are fearful that mobility of people from out of district would transmit them the infection of the deadly virus.

Considering the food supply running short in the district following the lockdown, parliamentarian Chakka Bahadur Lama had taken the lead to ferry rice from Nepalgunj and Surkhet to Simikot for two consecutive days.

The youths apprehensive about contracting the deadly infection have submitted memorandum to the government through the local administration, demanding the shutdown of such transportation.

Local Rabin Kumar Basnet said that they had submitted a memorandum to the State government to halt such cargo flights. Locals who were hit hard by scarcity of food items were, however, have been angered as the consequence could push them on the brink of famine.

Tashi BK of Simkot Rural Municipality worried, ‘‘We are more afraid of famine than disease.”

Chief District Officer of Humla, Binita Bhattarai, said that the memorandum would be sent to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.