Trishuli Corridor, Once Thriving on Tourism, Trade, and Hydroelectric Power, Becomes Deserted Overnight

“Battar and Bidur serve as administrative centers, while Betrawati, Dhunge, and Trishuli are economic hubs that attract people from various sectors,” described CDO Regmi.

“People also come from the upper parts of the district for shopping and travel. Visitors arrive from other parts of the country as well as from abroad.”

Mohana Acharya, member of parliament representing Rasuwa, said the corridor had been brought to life by hydroelectricity, tourism, and cross-border trade and warned that restoration to its former state would take a long time.

“The biggest issue is the human loss. In Rasuwa and Nuwakot, it is difficult to find anyone who has not been affected by the flood,” Acharya stated.

Tour guide Navaraj Ghimire shared that he has frequently transported tourists to Tibet via the Rasuwagadhi border.

“This route combines religious and natural attractions,” Ghimire remarked. “Many Indian and non-resident Indian pilgrims travel on the same religious journey arriving from Kathmandu or Muktinath heading towards Kailash.”

He described the route as “easy, affordable, and beautiful,” noting that both high spenders and budget travelers frequently used it.

“This path created an active corridor for hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and transportation businesses. Compared to Nepal’s Hilsa-Simikot route, the Trishuli Corridor was more suitable for the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage,” Ghimire added.

From this corridor, treks to Langtang and Gosainkunda originated. Approximately 600 foreign nationals who had come for Kailash and Langtang treks are currently missing.

“We have lost many guides, vehicle operators, and local hotel owners who worked along this route, which is a heavy blow to tourism there,” Ghimire lamented.

“A significant number of workers employed on this route were caught in the flood, and there is no one to report their status.”

During the fiscal year 2078/79, Nepal imported over 2 trillion Nepali rupees worth of goods, with nearly a quarter coming from China.

Rasuwagadhi Border served as a key gateway for China, Nepal’s second-largest trading partner.

Following the closure of Tatopani border post after the earthquake, Rasuwagadhi was considered as an alternative, although it frequently experienced disturbances during the rainy season.

Ram Hari Karki, president of the Nepal Himalayan Cross-Border Commerce Association, noted that the exact number of human casualties related to international trade remains to be confirmed.

“We have recorded a list of approximately 76 missing individuals identified as traders or commercial staff — mostly those preparing packing lists and conducting inspections,” Karki said. “Truck drivers and their assistants are not included in that list.”

The National Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs reported 233 missing drivers and co-drivers, along with destruction of 900 vehicles.

Nepal Truck Container Transport Pvt. Ltd. stated that more than 400 containers were swept away, and Arniko Transport reported losing about 15 buses and 29 workers.

Thirteen hydroelectric and five solar power projects of 24 megawatts capacity have been impacted, affecting power centers with a total capacity of 759 megawatts.

Around 900 people associated with these projects are missing, but details remain unclear about those trapped inside tunnels or otherwise unreachable.

Damage has been reported to 48 public buildings, 18 schools, seven health institutions, and 30 cultural heritage sites.

According to preliminary information from the Ministry of Education, 503 students and 28 teachers went missing following the floods in Rasuwa.

Government data indicates damage in 15 local bodies across five districts, with only Vidur Municipality in Nuwakot having 3,026 affected houses.

The police have stated that with the water levels receding, search efforts are intensifying to locate houses buried under sediment and extensive areas along both banks of the river connecting China and India.

Government reports estimate that 9.475 billion rupees will be needed for disaster risk reduction and river management, with an additional 515 million rupees required for sediment and debris management.

Nuwakot Chief District Officer Shambhu Prasad Regmi stated that in a few days, data collection using facilities in the affected wards will begin, which will provide clearer insights.

“The form prepared at the center will be uniform across all districts,” Regmi explained.

“Generally, ward chairpersons or executive members know how many people lived in each household, and it is expected that the data will be updated accordingly.”

Access to Rasuwa remains difficult, so some of the information collected in Nuwakot includes residents from Rasuwa.

“In Nuwakot, approximately 2,500 people have been reported missing due to flooding,” Regmi said. “In many cases, it is unclear where the individuals were at the time of the incident.”

MP Mohan Acharya from Rasuwa expressed confidence that “the real numbers will be known only after analyzing indicator data.”

“Currently, over 1,800 local residents remain missing in Rasuwa. Ward no. 2 of Gosainkunda Rural Municipality seems to be completely deserted,” Acharya disclosed.

“There is no accounting for how many vehicles heading from Dhunge towards Timure and Gosainkunda were washed away.”