Flooding in the Bhotekoshi River early Tuesday morning caused extensive damage to one of Nepal’s major trade corridors with China, sweeping away the Miteri Bridge and disrupting electricity production and customs operations.

At least 18 people—including nine customs yard workers, six Chinese nationals, and three Nepal Police personnel—are reported missing, according to local authorities. The swollen river washed away the Nepal–China Friendship Bridge at Rasuwagadhi in Gosaikunda Rural Municipality, Rasuwa.

(Sunil Sharma/NBA File Photo)

Commonly known as the Miteri Bridge, it had been reconstructed with Chinese assistance after being damaged in the 2015 earthquake.

Several vehicles—including seven or eight electric—parked at the customs yard in Timure were swept away, along with containers, authorities said Tuesday afternoon. The area’s EV charging station sustained damage, and cracks have appeared at sections along the Pasang Lhamu Highway, disrupting travel from Dhunche to Timure 

The flood also affected hydropower projects —including Rasuwagadhi (111 MW), Chilime (22 MW), and Trishuli 3A (60 MW)—halting over 200 megawatts of electricity production, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Full damage assessments are still underway.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said in a social media post that flooding was triggered by continuous rainfall on the Chinese side.

“The Bhotekoshi River flooded at around 3:15 AM this morning, causing damage to the Miteri Bridge that connects Nepal and China at Rasuwagadhi in Gosaikunda Rural Municipality, Rasuwa,” the post on X read. “The flood also entered the customs yard at Timure, sweeping away several cargo containers.”

In a separate post, NDRRMA said that a joint rescue team comprising the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force had rescued nine individuals—two police personnel and seven locals—who were trapped in the customs yard of the Rasuwagadhi Customs Office in Gosaikunda-2, Rasuwa.

Assistant Chief District Officer of Rasuwa, Dhruba Prasad Adhikari, clarified that the flood occurred in the Bhotekoshi that flows from China through Rasuwagadhi—not the eastern one. “There are two Bhotekoshi rivers,” he said.

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China is Nepal’s second-largest trading partner after India. Nepal imported goods worth Rs 314.57 million and exported those worth Rs 2.48 billion in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, according to the Department of Customs statistics.

Major imports include readymade garments, electronics, and fruits—particularly in preparation for the Dashain festival. Nepal exports handicrafts, herbs, and carpets, among other products to the northern neighbour.

Rasuwagadhi–Kerung and Tatopani–Khasa are the major trade routes between Nepal and China. In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal imported goods worth Rs 80.91 billion and exported Rs 1.96 billion through Rasuwagadhi Customs, according to Department of Customs data.

While the Tatopani route was historically the main channel, it remained largely closed after the 2015 earthquake and again during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Rasuwagadhi–Kerung route had emerged as a key alternative but was also mostly closed from early 2020 until 2023. Several traditional trading points along the northern border were only reopened in May 2024.

With Rasuwagadhi now cut off, trade will likely shift back to Tatopani, though it too faces infrastructure vulnerabilities, traders say. Goods worth Rs 46.89 billion—2.85% of total imports—entered through Tatopani in the same 11-month period.

[Read:  Flooded Bhotekoshi River Cuts Tatopani-Khasa Trade Route ]

Ashok Kumar Shrestha, Immediate Past President of the Nepal Trans Himalaya Border Commerce Association, said the scale of destruction is immense. “Some containers bound for Nepal have reportedly been submerged on the Chinese side as well,” he said.

“There’s little chance the bridge will be rebuilt soon. This will impact import of goods targeting Dashain,” Shrestha said. “Traders have already suffered major losses.”

He added that while goods will now have to be rerouted through Khasa, that route is also unreliable due to disasters and fragile infrastructure. “We see growing pressure on the Tatopani route too.”

Ram Chandra Parajuli, General Secretary of the same association, said they are coordinating an emergency meeting with stakeholders to improve rescue and response efforts. “The situation is critical, and many vehicles at the customs yard were reportedly swept away,” he said. The association also plans to send a team to the site for direct assessment.

Traders have long argued that Nepal–China trade is being held back by weak infrastructure and lack of clear communication channels—issues that now demand urgent attention.

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