Nepal flood devastates China trade route ahead of festival season

Nepal's festive season is overshadowed by a devastating flood that has crippled its crucial trade route with China. The Bhotekoshi River overflowed in Rasuwa, sweeping away thousands of tonnes of goods and destroying vital infrastructure, leaving traders facing immense financial and psychological pressure.

The disaster struck just as Nepal prepared for its major festivals like Teej, Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath, followed by winter. Normally, this period sees commercial hubs in Kathmandu bustling with activity as traders stock up. Instead, anxiety prevails as goods worth billions of rupees, imported on loans and credit, are stranded, damaged, or lost. Hundreds of cargo containers, including those carrying electric vehicles, were swept away.

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There is no possibility of opening Rasuwa or Tatopani for now. There is no infrastructure left there; everything has been reduced to a riverbed.

The Rasuwagadhi customs yard and the road to the Tatopani border point have been severely impacted. "There is no infrastructure left there; everything has been reduced to a riverbed," said Jayant Kumar Agrawal, secretary-general of the Nepal Overseas Exporters and Importers Association. The situation is compounded by the disappearance of customs officials, agents, and truck drivers, with 14 customs officials still unaccounted for.

Communication lines are down, leaving traders in Kathmandu struggling to get information about the condition of their drivers and goods. Parshuram Dahal, chairman of the RB Complex Business Association, noted the difficulty in obtaining basic information. The scale of the disaster has left traders struggling to cope, with calls for the state to prioritize rescue and relief efforts.

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Most drivers and helpers have their phones switched off, and it is difficult even to get basic information about their condition.