KATHMANDU, July 1 (Xinhua)-- Road leading to China-Nepal border in Rasuwagadhi from Nepal's capital Kathmandu has been witnessing several landslides which has affected the normal flow of vehicles in the only operating inland trade route with China.
Following the closure of Zhangmu (Khasa)-Tatopani border point since last year's deadly earthquake, Geelong (Keyrong)- Rasuwagadhi border point is the only operating trade route which had come into formal operation since December 2014.
Chief District Officer of bordering Rasuwa district Krishna Prasad Adhikari told Xinhua that the road leading to Rasuwagadhi has been witnessing multiple landslides in the recent days because of incessant rainfalls affecting normal flow of vehicles. There are landslides in Mulkharka, Ramche, Sanubharkhu, Timure, and Rasuwgadhi areas of Rasuwa, according to District Administration Office (DAO), Rasuwa.
"During the rainfall, we can see many mudslides taking place and when the rainfall stops, the number of dry slides cause blockage to vehicle movements," said Adhikari. "Both passenger vehicles and cargo containers have been operating in their own risks."
Rasuwa is one of severely earthquake-affected districts and most of landslides causing disruptions to vehicular movement now are those which were created as a result of the quake, according to Nepalese officials.
On Friday morning, a container carrying apples brought from China was stuck in mudslide in Ramche area in Rasuwa for about five hours requiring cranes to take it out, according DAO, Rasuwa. A few days ago, 22 containers were badly damaged by falling stones from the landside.
However, Chief of Nepal's customs office in Rasuwagadhi Kedar Paneru told Xinnua that despite occasional obstruction, bilateral trade has not been fully affected. "As it is the only trade route operating, necessary equipments have arranged to clear the roads wherever it occurs," he said.
According to the Customs Office, Rasuwa, about 400 containers taking perishable goods such as apple and other nearly 300 containers carrying other goods enter Nepal through Geelong-Rasuwagadhi border point in a month.
