Trade through Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi, the two major trade points with China, has come to a standstill after floods and landslides caused by last week's continuous rainfall destroyed bridges and roads near the border crossings. Concerned authorities have indicated that efforts to reopen these routes before the Dashain festival are unlikely.

The bridges over the Bhotekoshi River, which connects the main office of the Tatopani customs with the Chinese side, and the Liping River were washed away by floods and landslides, making it impossible to reopen the trade link before Dashain. Surya Prasad Kafle, the Information Officer at Tatopani Customs, mentioned that temporary roads have been constructed using hume pipes and wooden structures to allow small vehicles and pedestrians to cross the rivers after the water level receded.

“There are two to three large landslides between the customs and the border, which have swept away the main road, preventing 64 containers stranded in China from crossing over. Seven containers are also stuck on the Nepali side,” Kafle told  New Business Age . “Despite efforts by the administration and local representatives to reopen the trade route, it is unlikely to be operational before Dashain as the bridges have been washed away by the floods.”

Floods and landslides have washed away bridges, making it impossible to reopen the trade route before Dashain. A total of 71 containers, carrying goods for Dashain and winter supplies, remain stranded near Tatopani Customs and in China. Additionally, 200 mountain goats (Chyangra), meant for Dashain celebrations in Kathmandu, are stuck in Kerung.

The stranded containers hold fruits, garlic, and winter clothing needed for Dashain and Tihar. Traders are worried that the fruit, which cost millions of rupees to import, will spoil now that the roads won’t reopen before Dashain. Normally, goods like fruits and other food items stored in cold storage in China take 8 to 10 days to reach Kathmandu via Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi customs. If not transported within this period, the goods could rot, according to the traders.

Arjun Poudel, the Chief District Officer of Rasuwa, said that the Rasuwagadhi customs route is unlikely to reopen before Dashain. According to customs officials, three to four major landslides on the Chinese side will take another month to clear. Poudel also added that the road on the Nepali side is not risk-free at the moment, with six containers currently stranded.

"Seven traders who went to China to bring mountain goats for Dashain are also stranded there. We've received information that they have brought 200 goats, and we’re sending food and water to them from this side. But due to road damage, it's not possible to bring the goats by foot either, so they remain stuck there,” Poudel said.

The northern trade routes are primarily used for the import of goods like apples, garlic, clothing, electronics, and chemical fertilizers, while items such as copper utensils, herbs, flour, ghee, handicrafts, yak fodder, noodles, and eggs are exported.

According to the Department of Customs, goods worth Rs 20.49 billion were imported through these two routes in the first two months of the current fiscal year, while exports amounted to Rs 177.5 million. In the past, bilateral trade through these routes was disrupted for a long time following the 2015 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic.