Government pushes to reopen Rasuwagadhi border as flood recovery continues

Nepal is actively working to restore access to the Rasuwagadhi border crossing, which has been shuttered since severe flooding on August 26 destroyed critical road networks and bridges. Department of Roads officials are prioritizing the installation of a Bailey bridge over the Bhotekoshi River at Syaphrubesi to establish a temporary route for vehicles and pedestrians. While the government is coordinating with Chinese technical teams to assess the damage, a definitive timeline for reopening remains uncertain, as authorities have yet to decide on the relocation of customs and immigration facilities.

In response to the recurring destruction, officials are evaluating long-term infrastructure strategies, including the potential construction of an expressway to Kerung. Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai also confirmed that the government is exploring alternative trade routes like the Korala and Lamabagar crossings. These discussions follow revelations that a lack of timely cross-border communication hindered flood warnings, prompting efforts to establish more reliable joint disaster management mechanisms with China.