Kathmandu. The floods in Bhotekoshi a month ago and the incessant rains and landslides since September 28 have affected everywhere.

The rains, floods and landslides have affected the major trade points and roads of Nepal with China. Its impact has been felt everywhere.

Traders have also been greatly affected due to floods, landslides and unseasonal snowfall. Dashain and Tihar, the main festivals of Nepali Hindus, are approaching. Traders import goods from China targeting the festival. But this year, trade has been greatly affected due to floods and landslides.

Especially the goods imported from China are becoming less likely to arrive during the festivals. The flood in Bhotekoshi on August 10 has damaged the main commercial Rasuwagadhi border point.

More than 500 containers and the goods in them have been damaged. The goods being imported through this border point have also been stopped. Meanwhile, China has closed the Tatopani border point unannounced. One of the reasons for the unannounced closure is said to be the poor road infrastructure on the Nepal side.

Many had hoped that China would open the Tatopani border point after the damage caused by the Bhotekoshi floods. That could not be fulfilled. The Korala border point, which was an alternative, has been affected due to the incessant floods on the 11th.

Traders were ready to bring the goods even though the transportation time and cost increased due to the import of goods from the Corolla border point of Mustang. In view of the festival and the upcoming season, the traders were going to import a large number of clothes, shoes, winter goods, electronics and other goods from the Korala checkpoint. Some traders had also gone to China and ordered goods.

The traders were ready to import goods through the Corolla border point. The Kaligandaki river has damaged the bridge connecting Pokhrebagar of Annapurna Rural Municipality-6 and Bhurung-Tatopani of Ward No. 2 on the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road section since September 22. The Beni-Jomsom-Korala road section has also been damaged in many places.

According to Bharat Kumar Pun, chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality, ward 2, 3, 4 of Annapurna Rural Municipality and Mustang have been cut off from the transport link. Pun told Nivesh News that the roads coming from the Corolla border point have been damaged at various places.

Meanwhile, unseasonal snowfall has started in the Lomanthang area of Upper Mustang. Due to this, the operation of goods vehicles has also been problematic due to the deterioration of the road in many places. This has raised concerns that the imported goods targeting Dashain, Tihar and winter season will not be brought on time.

According to Yubaraj Chaulagain, a businessman of New Road, the impact of floods and landslides will be seen on the winter clothes business along with Dashain this time. He said that if the clothes and other consumables imported from China do not enter Nepal on time, there may be a shortage of goods in the market and it will have a direct impact on the consumers.

According to him, the closure of the Rasuwagadhi border point, the non-opening of the Tatopani border point and the closure of the road connecting to the Korola border point due to rain and snowfall have caused a big problem to the traders. He said that due to the lack of importation of goods, the business will decrease on the one hand and the cost of transportation will increase on the other, due to which the consumers will not be able to get goods at a cheaper price than in the past.

If the traders do not bring the goods needed for the festival to the market on time, it will also affect the business of Dashain and Tihar. Similarly, the chances of getting the goods of the consumer are also less.

According to traders, the price of winter clothes, shoes, jackets and other goods imported from China may go up as the supply of winter clothes, shoes, jackets and other goods will be affected.

Trader’s investment at risk

Targeting the festivals, traders have already invested a large amount of money to buy goods. However, their investment is stuck for a long time when the way to bring goods to Nepal is blocked. There is also a fear that the goods imported according to the season will not be sold in the same season, the goods will not be sold on time.

Importing goods by changing the route is increasing due to the high transportation charges and taking a long time. Traders say that the risk of goods being damaged on the road has also increased due to floods and landslides.