Traders are rerouting Chinese imports through Nepal’s southern border with India after floods and landslides disrupted the country’s main overland routes to China, raising the importance of the Birgunj trade corridor ahead of the festival season.

The Bhotekoshi floods in August disrupted the Rasuwa border crossing, while landslides affected the Tatopani crossing. Both are major routes for goods entering Nepal from China.

With Dashain, Tihar and Chhath approaching, traders have started bringing in clothing, footwear, festival decorations, dried fruits, chocolates and other goods through Birgunj, according to the Birgunj Customs Office.

“Goods booked for Dashain and other festivals are being brought in even if traders have to change the entry point,” said Krishna Prasad Mainali, chief customs administrator at the Birgunj Customs Office.

Some Chinese goods have already started arriving by rail through the Sirsiya dry port in Birgunj, Mainali said.

The rerouting comes as traders seek to replenish stocks before Dashain, Nepal’s biggest annual festival, which is followed by Tihar and Chhath.

Regular fuel imports through Birgunj have also helped boost customs revenue. By 2pm on Wednesday, the Birgunj Customs Office had collected Rs21.96 billion in revenue, or 93.37 percent of its Rs23.52 billion target for the month of Bhadra, according to Mainali.

The office has been given a revenue target of Rs293 billion for the current fiscal year.