Chinese armed police to help Nepal highway repair

Chinese armed transport police entered Nepal from Tibet on Saturday to help repair the rain-ravaged China-Nepal Highway at the urgent request of Nepal's government.

With the approval of China's central authorities, around 100 armed police officers and more than 30 excavators entered Nepal through Zham Pass in Tibet on Saturday, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal.

The China-Nepal Highway, with a total length of 943 km including 114 km in Nepal, is an important passageway for local people in daily life and trade. Rainstorms triggered mudslides in several sections and blocked traffic in recent days.

According to General Fu Ling of the traffic rescue brigade, bridges have been damaged by floods and mudslides and giant rocks have rolled down from mountains and blocked the road.

Fu said Nepal has entered flood season and the rain will continue for the next 20 days.

Chinese armed transport police entered Nepal for the first time in early May, to aid relief there after an 8.1-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on April 25. The China-Nepal Highway was severely damaged in the quake.