The Bahrabise–Kodari Highway section at Kodari has remained completely closed for 51 days following a massive Ico landslide, halting all types of vehicular movement, including cargo containers.
As a result, over 1,500 freight containers carrying goods worth billions of rupees have been stranded in Chinese territory, mainly in Nyalam, Dhingri, Khasa, Jangbu Port, and Shigatse. Many of these containers are loaded with festival-related supplies, causing significant losses to traders, who are also forced to pay high warehouse fees to store the goods. On the Nepali side, containers are stuck at Miteri Bridge, the old customs office premises, Liping Bazaar, and Kodari Bazaar. Perishable items like fruits and spices are being transported manually across the landslide area by porters.
The prolonged closure has resulted in billions of rupees in customs revenue losses for the government. Containers destined for Kathmandu after customs clearance have been unable to move.
Under the direction of Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Kulman Ghising, a government inspection team—including Road Department Director-General Dr. Bijay Jaisi, Deputy Director-General Prabhat Kumar Jha, and landslide experts—visited the Ico and Daklang landslide sites on Thursday.
The team announced plans to resume one-way traffic within a week, but challenges remain as the Bhote Koshi River’s erosion and continuous flow of slippery clay soil keep triggering fresh slides. Experts warn that reopening the road prematurely could endanger over 100 houses perched above the landslide zone.
Residents of the upper settlements had already evacuated two months ago for safety. The Ico landslide, which first struck on Shrawan 7 (mid-July), was briefly cleared to allow one-way traffic on Bhadra 5 (late August), but resumed sliding on Bhadra 8, forcing the ongoing closure. The Sindhupalchok Chamber of Commerce and Industry continues efforts to clear the debris, though the road remains impassable.
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