Following the fire in the 'Chhobin' area, including the central part of Nyalam and Khasa, the Chinese administration has banned the movement of locals and tourists through the border checkpoint, citing security reasons, said Police Inspector Jagat Bahadur Rai of the Area Police Office, Kodari.
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The Nepal-China northern trade border, Tatopani, has been completely closed since Monday following a massive fire that broke out last night in the border forest areas of Nyalam and Khasa regions of China.
According to Police Inspector Jagat Bahadur Rai of the Area Police Office Kodari, the fire broke out in the 'Chhobin' area, including the middle of Nyalam and Khasa, on Sunday night. As the fire spread, the Chinese administration completely banned the movement of locals and tourists through the border checkpoint, citing security reasons.
'A large forest area has been destroyed by the fire,' Inspector Rai said, 'The sky over Liping and Tatopani areas is covered with smoke and ash. The fire has not yet been brought under control.'
Police Inspector Rai informed, quoting Chinese security personnel, that the impact of the fire has also affected all communication and network services across the checkpoint. It is said that since the fire has not been brought under control, there is a risk that it may spread to the upper hills of Nepal connected to the checkpoint and the 'Kharani Pokhari' area.
According to locals, the fire has spread rapidly in the border forest area. Chinese security personnel have also reported that fire has been seen in the upper areas of the Tatopani checkpoint. "We have requested the Chinese side to provide images via drone to understand the real situation," Rai said.
The Chinese side has said that there is a risk that the fire could spread to Nepali territory if it is not controlled in time. Considering the potential risk, the Nepali side has also increased surveillance around the border. The exact details of the damage caused by the fire have not been made public.
Earlier, when the Rasuwa border was closed since June 24, most of the trade with China was conducted through the Tatopani border. But now that this border has also been closed, containers carrying goods worth crores of rupees are stopped on both sides. The closure of the border has made businessmen and importers worried.
