Nepal, July 9 -- A flash flood in the Lende river has damaged vital trade infrastructure at the Nepal-China border, disrupting the key Rasuwagadhi-Kerung trading route on the cusp of Nepal's major festivals. Traders fear the losses may amount to billions of rupees, leading to price hikes on imported goods during the festive season. Lende is a tributary of the Bhotekoshi river and lies on the Chinese side.

According to traders, the Nepal-China Friendship Bridge in Rasuwagadhi has been swept away, and a dry port under construction has suffered severe damage. Sections of key roads in the area have also been affected.

With just two months left before the start of Nepal's leading festivals, such as Dashain and Tihar, disruptions to the suppl...