Now Reading: Nepal flood devastates historic Himalayan trade route Rasuwagadhi
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Nepal flood devastates historic Himalayan trade route Rasuwagadhi
Nepal flood devastates historic Himalayan trade route Rasuwagadhi
A catastrophic flash flood along the Trishuli river in Nepal has devastated the Rasuwagadhi corridor, a key trans-Himalayan trade artery for over 260 years. The flood destroyed the Friendship Bridge linking Nepal…
A catastrophic flash flood along the Trishuli river in Nepal has devastated the Rasuwagadhi corridor, a key trans-Himalayan trade artery for over 260 years. The flood destroyed the Friendship Bridge linking Nepal and China, severed the border crossing, and swept away hundreds of shipping containers and electric vehicles waiting at the customs point.
The corridor, which once carried mule caravans trading Nepali grain for Tibetan salt and wool, had become a major gateway for Chinese goods. Rasuwa Customs figures showed more than 6,500 Chinese electric cars entered through the crossing in 2025-26. The July 2025 flood had already destroyed many EVs, and the latest deluge dislodged hundreds of containers, which damaged bridge pillars and power towers.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The destruction of the Rasuwagadhi crossing disrupts a route that has linked Nepal and Tibet since the Gorkha conquest of Nuwakot in 1744. Nepal depends on this corridor for over 90% of its Chinese imports by value, according to Nepal customs data. The government now faces the choice of rebuilding the Friendship Bridge or opening alternative routes through Kodari and Hilsa, both of which are longer and more landslide-prone. The economic cost of the closure will mount with each week the border stays shut, hitting supply chains for electronics, construction materials and electric vehicles.
The Nepal government has said it will assess the damage before deciding on a timeline for rebuilding the bridge. A preliminary report is expected within two weeks.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
