Kathmandu, Oct. 1 -- A flash flood in the Bhotekoshi river on August 26 swept away the Kerung-Rasuwagadhi border crossing, the only all-weather trading route between Nepal and China at the time of the disaster.

Almost all infrastructure on the Nepali side, including roads, bridges and buildings in Timure Bazar, was destroyed. With Nepal's three major trading points with China affected by floods and landslides, officials on both sides are now looking for viable alternatives and reassessing the country's northern transit corridors.

The disruption has assumed greater urgency with the major festivals of Dashain and Tihar approaching, as prolonged closure of the border points could disrupt imports and push up consumer prices.

Kerung had acq...