- विज्ञापन -
Kathmandu: Flash floods have swept away Nepal-China trade routes, resulting in at least eight deaths and 19 people going missing in Nepal’s Rasuwa district, according to Nepal Police reports.
Among the missing are 11 Nepali nationals, including two police personnel, as well as six Chinese nationals. The floods on Tuesday caused significant damage to key trade infrastructure along the Nepal-China border, disrupting the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung trade corridor just before major Nepalese festivals.
Traders fear that the destruction could lead to losses amounting to billions of rupees, potentially causing a surge in the prices of imported goods during the festive season. The primary imports affected include readymade garments, electronics, footwear, and electric vehicles, as reported by The Kathmandu Post.
The Assistant Chief District Officer of Rasuwa said that the flood washed away the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge and several new electric vehicles parked at the dry port. Dhruba Prasad Adhikari, the information officer at the Rasuwa District Administrative Office, mentioned that the focus remains on search and rescue efforts rather than detailed damage assessments, which are delayed due to poor weather conditions.
He added that adverse weather has made aerial rescue efforts difficult, and all communication and road networks have been disrupted. Ganga Bahadur Ghimire, senior vice president of the Nepal Trans Himalayan Border Commerce Association, stated that the total damage estimate is still pending.
Initial reports suggest that goods and infrastructure losses could reach billions of rupees, with reports of 40 to 50 electric vehicles submerged, 17 containers carrying apples washed away, and 22 to 25 containers filled with footwear and electronics damaged—some already cleared through customs, others awaiting clearance.
Ghimire emphasized the urgency for the government to quickly construct a Bailey bridge to facilitate the clearing of stranded containers and ensure that festival-related goods reach markets in time. The timeline for reopening the route remains uncertain.
