KATHMANDU: A sudden flood from Tibet on Wednesday morning swept away more than 800 electric vehicles and containers in the Rasuwagadhi area.
The flood in the Bhotekoshi River swept away more than 700 electric cars and over 100 containers from the Rasuwagadhi Customs area and surrounding locations.
Although official figures are yet to be released, automobile businesses estimate that more than 700 cars were swept away. The vehicles had been imported ahead of the festive season.
More than 200 BYD vehicles are estimated to have been lost in the flood. Around 500 vehicles from brands including MG, Wuling, Omoda, Jaecoo, iCaur, BAIC, Arcfox, Foton, and Skywell were also swept away.
The incident has caused losses worth billions of rupees for automobile businesses.
Dealers had imported a large number of vehicles targeting bookings generated during the recently held NAIMA Mobility Expo and the ongoing NADA Auto Show. Some vehicles had already cleared customs, while others were parked at the Rasuwagadhi Customs yard and along nearby roads.
The disaster has left automobile businesses concerned ahead of the festive season. Dealers may now face difficulties in delivering vehicles to customers on time. They may also have to bring new vehicles through alternative routes.
The flood also swept away a large number of containers transporting goods from China.
Ram Hari Karki, president of the Nepal Himalaya Trans-Himalayan Commerce Association, said an estimated 200 to 250 containers carrying goods were swept away from the Rasuwagadhi Customs yard.
He said more than 60 containers that had cleared customs but were still parked in the area were also swept away.
Several empty containers and other vehicles were also carried away by the flood.
“An exact figure is not available yet. We estimate that 200 to 250 containers carrying goods were swept away from the Rasuwagadhi Customs yard,” Karki told MeroAuto.
The flood has also swept away hundreds of private cars, motorcycles, scooters, hydropower project pickups, trucks, and excavators in the area.
