Heavy Snowfall Disrupts Nepal-China Trade through Korala Border

Export and import activities through the Nepal–China border point at Korala in Upper Mustang have been disrupted following heavy snowfall that began on Tuesday.

According to the Mustang Customs Office, all import-export operations have remained completely halted since Wednesday due to thick snow accumulation on the road section.

This is the third snowfall in Upper Mustang this year. Customs official Jeevan Devkota said more than two feet of snow has accumulated along the Jomsom–Korala road, bringing trade operations to a standstill. The blockage has also disrupted the routine functioning of the customs office.

More than a dozen containers bound for China are currently stranded at the Mustang Customs Office in Chhoser, Lomanthang–2. While customs clearance has been completed for some containers, others are still in the declaration process. However, none have been able to proceed due to the complete closure of the Kagbeni–Korala road.

Similarly, several containers that had already reached the Chinese customs point before the snowfall remain stuck on the Chinese side.

District Police Office spokesperson Santosh Basyal said the Kagbeni–Korala road has been fully blocked, with snow covering nearly 90 kilometres of the route. He said it may take several days to reopen the road.

Chief of the Kaligandaki Corridor Beni–Jomsom–Korala Road Project, Tejaswi Sharma, said efforts are underway to reopen the road as soon as possible. Snow-clearing equipment have been deployed from Chhusang, Baragung Muktikshetra–3, since Thursday.

Meanwhile, Suraj Shrestha, in-charge of the Armed Police Force (BOP) at Chhoser, said local traders who had been staying in tents at the Korala border have returned home due to extreme cold.

Following the snowfall, temperatures have plunged to around minus 20 degrees Celsius in Upper Mustang and minus 12 degrees Celsius in Lower Mustang, making daily life difficult. The cold has also affected livestock and herders in the region. -- RSS