KATHMANDU: The government has decided to request China to help resume operations at the Rasuwagadhi border crossing.
A meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management also decided to work in coordination with the Chinese government to repair the road on the Chinese side of the border and build a new “Friendship Bridge” over Lhende Khola on the border of Nepal and China.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who inspected the flood-affected area on Tuesday afternoon, said in the meeting that the government will coordinate with China through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resume border operations, if necessary, by constructing a temporary Bailey bridge.
The flood claimed nine lives, while 19, including six Chinese nationals, are missing.
The meeting also instructed the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport to make necessary arrangements for restoring road connectivity and directed relevant agencies to begin preparations for operating alternative border crossings with China.
Likewise, the meeting directed the Ministry of Finance insurance claims and other procedures related to damages in imported goods, container trucks and imported vehicles.
A sudden flood on the Lhendekhola River early Tuesday morning washed away the bridge linking Nepal and China in Rasuwagadhi, damaged several government buildings and hydropower projects, and washed away container trucks as well as newly imported EVs.
The flood claimed nine lives, while 19, including six Chinese nationals, are missing.
