A late-August flash flood down the Bhote Koshi–Trishuli corridor has destroyed the Rasuwagadhi–Kerung border crossing, turning the access road into a rubble-filled riverbed and flattening customs infrastructure on both the Nepal and China sides.
The disaster has hit Nepal–China trade hard. All cargo movement through Rasuwagadhi is currently suspended, with no clear timeline for restoring normal operations. For the auto industry, the impact is especially severe because Rasuwagadhi had become the main hub for importing electric vehicles from China.
Dealers report that more than 800 vehicles, including many EVs awaiting customs clearance, were swept away or buried at the border dry port. Vehicles already cleared, along with those still in bond, are understood to be among the losses.
BYD’s authorised distributor in Nepal, Cimex Inc director Yamuna Shrestha, has described the Rasuwagadhi tragedy as not just a business setback but a human crisis affecting staff, customers and both Nepali and Chinese communities. She has also pledged continued support for the area during its recovery.
With Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani both closed to regular movement, importers have started diverting stranded vehicles via alternative northern routes, but volumes are limited and costs are higher.
Attention is now turning to Korala as a potential long-term alternative border point for vehicle imports. However, Korala lies farther from Kathmandu and currently lacks the robust road and customs infrastructure that Rasuwagadhi had, making major upgrades to roads, bridges and trade facilities essential before it can reliably handle large-scale EV traffic.
Writes on vehicle pricing, taxation and the Nepali auto market from ongoing tracking of distributor price lists. Editorial policy.
