A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Nepal had asked China to hasten the re-opening of the two border crossings closed since the earthquakes struck.
Work began from today to open the blocked Tatopani point bordering with China within five days in Sindhupalchowk. Excavators and drill machines have been used to clear the debris. Road clearance work began after Sindhupalchowk DAO, security forces and members of Sindhupalchowk Chapter of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) inspected the landslide-hit areas. Sindhupalchowk CDO Balbhadra Giri said efforts were on to open the border point by clearing the landslip debris before Dashain. “The border can be opened in a week at maximum and in five days at minimum if adequate fuel is made available,” CDO Giri added. He said there was massive debris as a huge cliff had fallen and the topography was too difficult. Giri informed that work had begun after agreeing to compensate the two houses which would be damaged during road clearance. A landslide about two weeks ago had disrupted around 100 metres of the road section on the Nepali side near Miteri Bridge.
