Over 500 Cargo Containers Stranded in Mustang as Floods and Snowfall Disrupt Nepal-China Trade Route
More than 500 cargo containers and over 200 electric vehicles remain stranded along the Lete-Korala road in Mustang after floods, landslides, and snowfall severed road connectivity last month. The disruption has halted customs clearance at the Korala border, delaying essential imports from China ahead of the Dashain-Tihar festive season and slowing economic activity in Nepal's market.
MUSTANG, Oct. 7 — More than 500 cargo containers are stranded along the road from Lete to the Korala border point in Mustang after floods, landslides, and snowfall disrupted road connectivity following heavy rainfall last month.
The containers have remained stuck at various locations across Mustang for approximately a week after the road was blocked by floods and landslides between September 24 and 27. Road repair works are currently underway at several damaged sections in Myagdi, including Pokharebagar, Kunaute, and Baisari.
Technicians involved in the road project estimate it could take another week to fully restore the road. Meanwhile, more than 70 containers and over 100 electric vehicles are parked at the Jomsom bus park because the Beni-Jomsom road remains blocked.
Some cargo containers have been brought to Jomsom from the Korala border after the Kaligandaki Corridor Road Project repaired damaged sections along the Jomsom-Korala road.
Hundreds of containers carrying goods imported from China had earlier remained stranded at the border after floods and landslides disrupted electricity and internet services, preventing customs clearance.
Floods, landslides, and river erosion damaged electricity poles at dozens of locations along the Myagdi section, disrupting the 33-kV central electricity transmission line and internet services in Mustang for about a week. The disruption also affected regular services at the Mustang Customs Office.
Gobinda Gurung, a container driver stranded at the Korala border, said around 300 containers carrying imported goods and more than 200 electric vehicles are still waiting for customs clearance.
The stranded cargo includes goods imported from China for the Dashain-Tihar festive season. Delays in delivering the goods to their destinations have affected traders and left consumers unable to purchase many of the products they had expected to buy, according to local traders.
The prolonged disruption has also slowed economic activity in the Nepali market.