KATHMANDU, Aug 26: A massive flood in the Bhotekoshi river, a tributary of the Trishuli river, on Wednesday washed away 200 containers of goods being imported from China via the Rasuwagadhi border.
It has been estimated that more than half of the imported goods washed away by the sudden flash flood were targeted for upcoming festivals including Teej, Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. According to traders, the consignments included ready-made clothes, footwear and bags, among others, being imported through the Rasuwagadhi-Kerung border.
Apart from the imported goods, the flood has caused substantial damage to the Timure area of Rasuwa and dozens of roadside settlements in the vicinity, including the customs office. The flood also washed away a large number of electric vehicles parked at the customs yard.
Since the Tatopani border was closed for the past few months, traders had been transporting goods imported from China through the Rasuwagadhi border point.
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Ramhari Karki, president of the Nepal Trans-Himalayan Border Commerce Association, confirmed that more than 200 containers of goods at the Rasuwa customs yard have been washed away.
Karki informed that 60 containers had already received customs clearance on Tuesday afternoon. "Most of them were carrying goods ordered from China for the upcoming festivals," he said.
Manoj Babu Shrestha, president of the Nepal National Entrepreneurs Federation, said the condition of a number of traders, employees, drivers and other workers washed away by the flood is still unknown.
Stating that the damage is estimated to be greater this time than they suffered last year, Shrestha said, they are yet to receive details of the damages.
The flood has caused irreparable loss to cars imported from China. It has been estimated that more than 700 vehicles were being imported targeting this year's Dashain and Tihar, which were in the Rasuwa customs area before the flood hit the region.
The flood has washed away all the vehicles in the customs area. Cymax Inc., which sells BYD vehicles, has suffered the most damage. Cymax Inc. has washed away more than 200 BYD vehicles ordered by Cymax Inc. Similarly, Paramount Motors, which sells MG and other vehicles, has also suffered a lot of damage. 180 vehicles ordered by Paramount have been washed away in the flood.
Similarly, 65 Omoda vehicles and 60 Foton vehicles have been washed away in the flood. Concerned businessmen have said that 81 vehicles of various brands imported by MAW Vriddhi have also been washed away in the flood. According to businessmen, 30-35 BAIC and Arcfox vehicles have been washed away in the flood. Apart from this, vehicles of brands including Skywell, Maxus have also been flooded. They say that some vehicles imported by CG Motors and other companies have also been washed away in the flood.
In addition to these damages, the connectivity of Rasuwagadhi border from other locations of the country has almost come to halt due to the devastation of floods. This is expected to affect bilateral trade with China for months, Shrestha added.
