KATHMANDU: The Tatopani border point has remained deserted since Chinese authorities abruptly closed the crossing on Aug. 30.
Officials at the Tatopani Customs Office stated that they have received no clear explanation regarding the closure, and it remains uncertain when the transit point will reopen.
In an email to Nepali authorities, the Chinese side stated that imports and exports through the Zhangmu-Tatopani crossing would remain suspended until further notice.
Laxmi Niraula, the Nepali Consul General in Lhasa, indicated that Chinese authorities intend to keep the border closed until the risks posed by landslides at Liping and Eko, among other areas, have stabilized.
However, the border remains open for passenger movement. More than 300 Nepali citizens, who were stranded in China due to the recent Bhote Koshi flood, recently returned home through this crossing.
The closure has forced traders to seek alternative routes for goods, including maritime shipping via Kolkata or the Korala border point. Buddharaj Basnet, president of the Sindhupalchok Chamber of Commerce and Industry, suggested that the poor condition of roads and ongoing landslide risks are likely behind the decision.
The closure has caused significant hardship for business owners as the festive season approaches. While the Eko landslide, which began on July 15, was cleared to allow container movement, the Chinese side enforced a full closure following the impact of the Bhote Koshi flood on Aug. 26.
