Lucknow,Ā Aug 29:
Cross-border trade between India and Nepal has been severely disrupted following the devastating floods in Nepal, with a queue of nearly 16 km of cargo trucks forming on the Indian side of the Sonauli border in Uttar Pradesh.
The massive congestion has left hundreds of trucks waiting to cross into Nepal, as flood damage has affected road connectivity and normal movement of goods.
Sonauli, one of the principal land crossings between India and Nepal, handles a large volume of commercial traffic carrying essential commodities and other goods between the two countries.
The flooding has disrupted the movement of vehicles and created a major bottleneck on the Indian side.
Truck operators and transporters have been forced to remain at the border for extended periods, with the long queues adding to their operational costs and delaying deliveries.
The disruption comes at a time when Nepal is already dealing with the widespread impact of flash floods and landslides.
Several roads and transport links in the flood-affected areas have been damaged, making it difficult for cargo vehicles to move towards their destinations.
The Sonauli crossing is particularly important for trade between India and Nepal, and prolonged disruption could affect the supply of essential commodities in parts of Nepal.
Authorities on both sides are monitoring the situation and working to restore normal movement.
The floods have also disrupted tourism and pilgrimage-related travel, with hundreds of Indian nationals stranded or missing in different parts of Nepal and the adjoining Tibet region.
The latest trade disruption highlights the wider economic impact of the disaster, which has gone beyond loss of life and displacement to affect transport, commerce and supply chains.
With a 16-km line of trucks already reported on the Indian side, clearing the backlog will depend largely on restoration of road connectivity and improvement in conditions across the border.