Kathmandu, Sept 30: Nepal’s trade with China has been severely disrupted after floods and landslides effectively shut all three major overland trade routes, Tatopani, Rasuwagadhi and Korala, raising concerns over supplies ahead of the Dashain and Tihar festivals.
Korala, which had emerged as the main alternative after Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi became inaccessible, has now been cut off by landslides along roads leading to Mustang. More than 100 customs-cleared cargo trucks and containers are stranded at Korala.
Korala Customs chief Bidur Chudal said the customs office remains operational, but vehicles cannot move because access roads are blocked.
“We are working and the customs point is operational, but vehicles cannot move because the road is closed,” Chudal said.
Department of Roads spokesperson Shubharaj Neupane said the Beni Jomsom Korala and Besisahar Manang roads remain blocked, although most other major highways, including affected sections of the BP and Prithvi highways, have reopened.
Authorities are working to reopen the Mustang road within two days that would restore access to Korala. The Manang road could take longer.
The disruption has left Nepal without an effective overland trade route with China. Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi had already been affected by landslides and other disruptions. Goods previously routed through those crossings had increasingly been diverted through Korala, putting additional pressure on the Mustang route.
The government is, meanwhile, making diplomatic efforts to reopen Tatopani. A high-level delegation involving officials from the foreign, finance and infrastructure ministries, the Department of Roads and local authorities recently inspected the border and Arniko Highway and held discussions with Chinese representatives.
Officials said the Chinese side was positive about resuming trade once road conditions improve. Pedestrian movement through Tatopani continues, but commercial cargo movement and imports and exports remain suspended.
The closures have come at a particularly difficult time for businesses preparing for the festival season.
Former NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal president Dhruv Thapa said automobile importers have been badly affected because Dashain and Tihar are the industry’s busiest sales periods.
“About 40 per cent of annual vehicle bookings and deliveries take place during this period,” Thapa said. “With the main border crossings closed, businesses are struggling to deliver vehicles to customers on time.”
He said Korala could potentially resume operations within a week to 10 days if the federal government moves quickly to repair damaged roads. Businesses have also urged the government to intensify diplomatic efforts to restore full operations at Tatopani.
Traders fear prolonged disruption could affect the supply of Chinese goods and eventually put pressure on the domestic market during the festivals.
Meanwhile, the Department of Roads said crews are working to reopen landslide-hit routes across the country. The Kanti Highway, a shorter route connecting Kathmandu and Hetauda, reopened to one-way traffic on Wednesday after remaining closed for several days.
Authorities have warned that several road sections remain vulnerable to further landslides despite the rainfall easing.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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