Flood wrecks Nepal-China trade route, sparks fears of festival price hike

Ahead of festivals, goods worth billions of rupees—including EVs, garments, and electronics—are damaged or stranded after Rasuwagadhi bridge was washed away.

A flash flood in the Lende river has damaged vital trade infrastructure at the Nepal-China border, disrupting the key Rasuwagadhi-Kerung trading route on the cusp of Nepal’s major festivals. Traders fear the losses may amount to billions of rupees, leading to price hikes on imported goods during the festive season. Lende is a tributary of the Bhotekoshi river and lies on the Chinese side.