Bhote Koshi-Trishuli Floods: ‘Dashain Goods Lost in Rasuwa, Remaining Items Stalled at Korala Border’
Image source, RSS
As the Dashain and other festivals approach, goods imported from China via Rasuwa’s Timure route were caught in the Bhado 10 (September 25) Bhote Koshi-Trishuli floods. Due to blockages at Kerung, only a few remaining items survived, which businessman Bhakta Parajuli subsequently dispatched towards the Korala border.
Tatopani crossing, located roughly 100 kilometers and about a four-hour drive from Kathmandu, is the shortest route for transporting goods from China to Nepal’s capital.
However, China instructed to use the Korala border in Mustang instead of Tatopani in Sindhupalchok, and consequently, goods destined for Nepal have been arriving via this route. Over the past month, landslides and road cuts have occurred at multiple points on the way to Korala, with officials estimating that restoring the route will take at least 10 days.
“All goods coming through customs in Rasuwa were washed away by the flood. I have sent the remaining goods to Korala, but they won’t arrive before Dashain,” said Parajuli, a former senior secretary of the Himalayan Cross-Border Trade Association.
Businesspersons noted that demands for Chinese-made clothing surge before festivals such as Dashain and Tihar, as buying new clothes and gifting is a widespread custom in Nepal during this season.
Although goods from Korala take about three days to reach the capital, Parajuli expressed concerns that even after the Korala border reopens, selling Dashain goods on time will remain challenging.
Jitendra Basnet, spokesperson of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, informed that continuous rainfall from last Thursday to Sunday caused snow accumulation near Korala and blocked many points on the Kali Gandaki corridor road.
“Despite efforts to facilitate goods diverted through Korala border, recent rains have obstructed the roads. Additionally, two other border points have been closed for some time, directly impacting cargo coming through the northern border,” explained Basnet.
Nepal has 13 official trade border points with China; however, only three are open to motorized traffic.
How Long Will It Take to Reopen the Korala Border Route?
Image source, RSS
Ajita Sharma, Chief District Officer of Mustang, reported that roads from Jomsom to Korala are blocked by local landslides, and multiple obstructions exist between Lete and Myagdi. Due to this, Mustang headquarters is isolated from the national road network.
“Currently, roads are also blocked within Myagdi. Near the Galeshwor temple, in Rahughat and Tatopani areas, roads have been washed away,” Sharma said via telephone.
Krishna Raj Adhikari, head of the Road Division in Pokhara, estimated that road expansion work to Korala border could take up to two more weeks.
“The road to Myagdi will reopen soon, but opening the road beyond to Korala could take 10 to 15 days,” he explained.
Less than two weeks remain for Dashain’s Ghatasthapana ritual, but with roadblocks to Korala, traders awaiting Chinese imports like clothing are increasingly worried.
“I had taken loans to import goods for Dashain, but the flood washed all away. The remaining goods won’t arrive before Dashain,” Parajuli said.
He added that shortages of Chinese goods are already being noticed in the market.
Spokesperson Basnet said the government is working to repair roads and reopen the border swiftly.
“Alternatively, goods can be imported via sea routes, but with festivals approaching, time constraints are causing importers difficulties,” Basnet remarked.
With both Tatopani and Rasuwa Gadhi border points closed, authorities had previously deployed five times more staff at Korala to handle increased traffic, officials said.
Korala, located 4,600 meters above sea level along a 116-kilometer journey from Jomsom along the Kali Gandaki riverbank, was historically open only twice a year. Now open year-round, businesspeople note that snow obstructs travel during winter.
The 2015 earthquake severely damaged Tatopani border, which remains unrestored to its former condition. Officials note that vehicles, Chinese apples, other fruits, ready-made garments, and electronic devices arrive at Nepal through Rasuwa Gadhi via Tatopani.
Tatopani Border: A Possible Alternative
Despite some minor landslides blocking roads due to three continuous days of rain, Nepalese authorities say these can be quickly cleared to reopen the route to Tatopani border.
Following significant flood damage to Rasuwa Gadhi border and Pasang Lhamu Highway on Bhado 10, Nepali officials have been repeatedly urging China to reopen the border crossings.
With Korala border also closed, Himalayan Cross-Border Trade Association chairman Ram Hari Karki stressed the need for diplomatic negotiations to reopen Tatopani.
“We have informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Customs Department that diplomatic efforts are needed since the Rasuwa border cannot be opened immediately, and snow blocks access to Korala as well. Opening the nearer and more accessible Tatopani border should be pursued, but the Chinese side has not responded,” Karki said.
The Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Basnet confirmed diplomatic initiatives for reopening Tatopani, adding, “However, there has been no clear information from China. They have not shared details about existing issues.”
According to Basnet, the reopening process has been communicated to China via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Nonetheless, businesspeople argue that diplomatic efforts have so far been ineffective. Karki stated, “Diplomacy alone is insufficient; without open borders, communication with China is almost severed.”
After landslides near Nepal’s side blocked roads at the end of Ashar (mid-July), China unilaterally closed the Tatopani border from Ashar 27 (mid-July), according to traders and officials.
Ramesh Bahadur Shah, acting chief of Tatopani customs office, reported that aside from a few vehicles stranded since the Bhado 10 floods, no trade movement has occurred.
Despite repeated requests, China has shown no signs of reopening Tatopani border.
Higher Costs and Longer Transit Times for Goods from Kolkata
Merchants point to the alternative of importing Chinese goods via sea routes to India’s Kolkata, then transporting by road to Kathmandu and other major cities in Nepal.
However, this option entails higher expenses and longer transit times. According to Himalayan Cross-Border Trade Association chairman Karki, goods brought from India take at least one month to reach Nepal, whereas goods via Tatopani take only 10 to 13 days.
“Shipping a container from Kolkata costs 100,000 to 200,000 Nepali rupees more. Also, small and medium-sized goods move more easily via Tatopani,” explained Karki.
“Containers don’t fill quickly in Kolkata, so transporting smaller quantities is difficult from there.”
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