KATHMANDU: The Tatopani border (Nepal-China border) crossing has remained closed for the past seven days due to continuous landslides triggered by incessant rainfall.
A major landslide at Iku, near Kodari Bazaar in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-2, blocked the Araniko Highway last Sunday night. According to Surya Prasad Kafle, Officer at the Tatopani Customs Office, although traffic briefly resumed on the evening of August 24, the road was closed again after fresh landslides that night.
“Since the large landslide on the morning of July 23, the road has not been fully operational. Some vehicles entered Nepal on July 22, but another landslide occurred on the July 23. Although the road reopened briefly on the evening of the 8th, the debris has yet to be cleared,” said Kafle.
Currently, about 35 containers are stranded on the Nepal side, while an estimated 500 containers are stuck across the border in China. Kafle added that while efforts are ongoing to remove the debris, continued rainfall poses a threat of further blockage.
Chief District Officer of Sindhupalchok, Bandhu Prasad Bastola, stated that if the rains subside, one-way traffic may resume by Saturday evening. “In the past 25 days, the road has only been open for three days. The Road Department is ready to reopen it for one-way traffic as soon as possible. Geologists and landslide experts have been mobilized to assess the area. We are preparing to open the route by today,” Bastola said.
In addition to landslides, a sudden glacial flood from the Lhende River—originating in Tibet—on July 8 caused significant damage. The Rasuwa-Kerung border crossing also remains closed.
With the Tatopani crossing now serving as the main northern gateway to China, prolonged closure is expected to negatively impact revenue collection. “With major festivals approaching, this is a crucial time for trade and revenue collection. If the rains don’t stop soon, we won’t be able to clear the landslides, which could cause a sharp decline in revenue at the northern border this year,” Bastola warned.
The Kodari region, heavily damaged during the 2015 earthquake, remains highly vulnerable to landslides, despite repeated road repairs and reopenings.
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