The Tatopani border crossing has been closed again after the fire moved towards the lake area above Liping in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-2.
What you should know
The massive fire that broke out in the border forest areas of Nyalam and Khasa regions of China since Sunday night has not yet been brought under control.
According to Sindhupalchowk Chief District Officer Ram Krishna Adhikari, the Chinese administration has informed that the border crossing is not possible as the fire in the middle of Nyalam and Khasa and the Chobin area has not been brought under control.
The Tatopani border crossing has been closed again after the fire moved to the lake area above Liping in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-2. The border crossing was opened for one day on Wednesday to bring vehicles stranded on the road to Old Khasa Bazaar to Nepal.
According to Police Inspector Jagat Bahadur Rai of the Kodari Area Police Office, around 150 local drivers were allowed to enter China at 8:19 am on Wednesday. 'The fire in the middle of Khasa and Nyalam has not yet been brought under control, there are reports that the locals around there have been relocated, which is why the border crossing, which was opened for one day on Wednesday, was closed again on Thursday,' he said.
Nearly 400 containers destined for China have been stranded due to the closure of the border crossing. This has further worried businessmen and importers. However, the movement of the general public through the Tatopani border crossing was temporarily stopped on the same day. It is said that the movement was affected as the system of the customs office on the Chinese side could not be operational due to the fire.
It is said that a decision will be made only after the customs system on the Chinese side is fully operational on the issue of when regular movement at the border will be opened. 'Since the fire has spread slightly above the Dardhelo Liping, efforts are being made to extinguish the fire and inspect it by dropping water from the Chinese side,' said Police Inspector Rai.
Meanwhile, locals have said that there is a risk that the fire may spread to the upper hills of Liping and the vicinity of the Kharan Pokhari. It is said that the fire is burning in the forest at the head of Bagam, which can be reached by walking for about 10 hours from the Miteri Bridge.
According to locals, the cattle herders are in panic as the forest fire spreads in the Chinese border area, fearing that their pastures will be destroyed. Chinese security personnel have reported that the fire has also been seen in the upper reaches of the Tatopani border crossing. The impact of the fire has also affected all communication services across the border.
