China-Nepal link reopens to traffic

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-26 08:38

The China-Nepal Highway, which was partially blocked by a massive landslide a month ago, was fully reopened to traffic Monday.

Escorted by officers and soldiers of the No 2 detachment of the China Armed Police Forces for Transportation, a convoy of 17 trucks early Monday passed through the repaired section of the highway.

It was blocked on July 25 by the worst landslide since 1965, a spokesman with the detachment, surnamed Chen, said.

Teams of soldiers and locals work to clear the China-Nepal Highway, which was blocked by a landslide on July 25. [file]

The 827-km China-Nepal Highway links Lhasa, capital of the Tibet autonomous region, with Friendship Bridge at the border.

It was opened in 1965 and is a key commercial link between China and countries to the south.

Zham Port, the largest in Tibet and on the Sino-Nepalese border, handles more than 70 percent of the region's trade. Last year, it was estimated to be worth $280 million.

The landslide deposited about 300,000 cu m of debris on the highway, about 2 km from Zham. It also affected more than 1,000 people living in the area.

Experts said the geological structure along the highway on the southern face of the Himalayas is fragile, and prone to landslides during the rainy season, from May to September.

More than 200 workers and police were sent to repair the highway.

Wang Dui, chief of the No 2 detachment, said: "Since the regional rainy season is not over, there is a danger of more landslides.

"The highway section that collapsed will be under 24-hour surveillance during the period."

Xinhua