Following the flash floods in the Bhotekoshi river, approximately 80 drivers along with their containers have been stranded in the Chinese market town of Kerung for the past three days.

Krishna Bahadur Lamichhane, a container driver currently stuck in Kerung, reported that the drivers, who had travelled across the border to collect goods, were left stranded in the immediate aftermath of the flash flood.

Speaking to Kantipur via WeChat, Lamichhane said, “As we have been unable to return to Nepal for three days, the Chinese administration has begun compiling a roster of the stranded drivers. Eighty individuals have registered their names so far.”

He noted that the drivers are currently covering their own food and accommodation expenses at local hotels. “Some have not even been able to contact their families, and many are running out of money,” said Lamichhane, a Rasuwa native. “We are holding out hope that the government will make the necessary arrangements for our home return.”

Narendra Pariyar, chief district officer of Rasuwa, stated that the local administration has yet to receive precise details regarding the individuals stranded in Kerung.

“It is currently impossible to bring them back to Nepal via the Rasuwagadhi border point. The road connecting Rasuwagadhi to Dhunche has sustained immense damage, and bridges have been washed away. It could take months to reopen the route,” Pariyar said.

He added that the Rasuwa administration will coordinate with the relevant ministries to explore alternative measures for repatriating the stranded citizens. The floods have completely decimated the Rasuwagadhi-Timure-Syabrubesi road section. The drivers are currently sheltering in Kerung, roughly 30 kilometres away from Rasuwagadhi.

According to Lamichhane, reports indicate that the floods have also damaged about five kilometres of the road stretching from the Nepal-China border at Rasuwagadhi towards Kerung.

“Locals in Kerung have suggested that we might be able to return to Nepal via the Tatopani or Korala border points. However, they mentioned that the Tatopani crossing is about 300 kilometres from Kerung, and the Korala crossing is more than twice that distance,” he said. “The government must facilitate our return through these alternative border points.”

He further added that the Chinese authorities have not provided any official directives thus far, and the drivers have been unable to establish contact with government agencies on the Nepali side.

Alongside the lorry drivers, a number of other Nepali nationals—including construction labourers and those engaged in the hospitality and business sectors—remain in Kerung.