Tatopani Border Closed for Over a Month and a Half: Trucks Stranded on Both Nepal and China Sides
Nepal’s second major trade border with China, Tatopani, has been closed for nearly one and a half months, leaving containers both cleared for customs in China and those already inside Nepal stranded, according to local business operators.
Containers that had reached the dry customs points on the Nepal side were only able to move forward after about three and a half weeks when a landslide obstruction was cleared.
“There are many landslides. After the diversion caused by the landslide at Daklang was cleared, trucks that had been passed by customs were able to leave, but obstructions remain due to landslides between the customs area and the border, particularly at areas called Eco and Liping,” said Krishna Prasad Sharma, Assistant Chief District Officer of Sindhupalchok.
“The Liping landslide near the border has caused significant soil erosion at the base of the road, which will take some time to clear.”
Businesspeople report that currently, trucks loaded with cargo are stranded in a situation where they cannot proceed forward or retreat on either the Nepal or China side.
Ram Hari Karki, President of the Nepal Himalaya Cross-Border Commerce Association, stated, “There is no possibility to turn back trucks that have already cleared customs on the Chinese side to Rasuwa or Korala borders. About 85 such vehicles remain stuck there.”
Although options were discussed to offload cargo from trucks that have already entered Nepal, officials assured that the border would open soon, leading the association to retract those plans, Karki said.
“It has been more than a month since the border closure, and so far, our only option has been to wait and hope,” said Karki.
Trucks Stranded Amid Landslides
Dipendra Prakash Giri, Chief of Tatopani Customs Office, stated that many trucks have become stuck “amid various landslides where falling rocks continue to obstruct the road” without reaching the dry customs area.
“Those blocked on the Chinese side have reportedly been redirected towards Rasuwa and Korala border points, but trucks that have already entered Nepal find themselves in risky conditions,” the customs chief explained.
“This area’s challenging terrain has led to multiple problems at once. The dry customs yard itself is at risk from falling rock landslides, with frequent incidents of rocks falling into the yard. Recently, a large rock fell between two trucks but fortunately avoided causing damage.”
Because of the unstable landslide-prone areas, trucks cannot safely wait or be parked there, and the Armed Police have been assigned to monitor the situation, Giri added.
Businesses indicate that when northern border points such as Tatopani are operational, goods can be transported from anywhere in China to Kathmandu within two to three weeks.
Otherwise, if routed via maritime paths through India, it can take as long as one and a half months, they note.
“Tatopani is the closest border for importing goods into Nepal from anywhere in China, not just Lhasa or Guangzhou. The distance from the border to Kathmandu is shortest via Tatopani,” said Ram Hari Karki, President of the Nepal Himalaya Cross-Border Commerce Association.
“Yet, it has become our most challenging route.”
Although the Tatopani border was damaged in the 2015 earthquake causing prolonged closure, it was reopened; however, it has not yet returned to its former condition.
Fruits such as Chinese apples, mangoes, garlic, and grapes, as well as vegetables, ready-made garments, and electronic goods, are commonly imported through Tatopani.
“Fortunately, the currently stranded trucks were not carrying perishable fruits or vegetables; otherwise, those goods would have spoiled by now,” said Customs Chief Giri.
Road Department’s Statement
Officials from the Road Department confirm that stabilizing the landslide-prone sections between customs and the border is currently their main challenge to reopening the road.
According to spokesperson Shubraj Nyaupane, ongoing erosion of the Bhote Koshi River valley below the landslide at Liping is complicating efforts because there are settlements uphill as well.
“We cannot excavate uphill to protect the villages, nor are we able to construct retaining walls downhill,” Nyaupane said.
“Currently there is water in the landslide; we are working to remove it. Once the monsoon lessens and the area dries up, temporary road openings will be made.”
The Road Department has said their immediate priority is to bring in the stranded containers into Nepal.
“For a long-term solution, an agreement with the Chinese government on landslide stabilization has been signed, and a study team from China has already arrived in Nepal,” Nyaupane stated.
He added that after the monsoon season, substantive work on stabilization will commence.
Meanwhile, business operators indicated that decisions about transporting goods for the upcoming Dashain-Tihar festivals via Tatopani will be made in the coming days or weeks, based on the evolving road conditions.
“There is no other border that we can trust fully. However, we have received news that a landslide has occurred towards Rasuwa on Saturday, which may close that border for about a week,” said Ram Hari Karki.
Tatopani Customs Office, which collected approximately NPR 1.767 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2079/80 (Nepali calendar), has set a revenue collection target of NPR 2.5 billion for the current fiscal year.
