Fire at Nyalam-Khasa Still Not Under Control: Tatopani Border Crossing Closed Again as Fire Spreads Toward Nepal

Sindhupalchok, 15 January 2026, Anish Tiwari

Unofficial Translation by NFMC Nepal:

The severe fire that broke out on Sunday night in the border forest area between China’s Nyalam and Khasa regions is still not under control.

According to Sindhupalchok’s Chief District Officer Ram Krishna Adhikari, the Chinese administration has informed authorities that the border crossing cannot operate because the fire in the central area of Nyalam and Khasa, and in the Chhobin area, remains uncontrolled.

The Tatopani border crossing has been closed again after the fire spread toward the upper alpine area above Liping in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-2. The crossing had been opened for one day on Wednesday to bring back vehicles stranded on the road toward the old Khasa bazaar.

According to Police Inspector Jagat Bahadur Rai of the Kodari Area Police Office, around 150 local vehicle drivers were given permission to enter China at 8:19 AM on Wednesday. “The fire in the central area of Khasa and Nyalam is still not under control. We have received reports that locals in the surrounding areas have been evacuated, which is why the crossing that opened for one day on Wednesday was closed again on Thursday,” he said.

With the crossing closed, around 400 containers that need to travel to China are stranded. This has added to the concerns of traders and importers. On the same day, movement of general public through the Tatopani crossing was also temporarily stopped. The Chinese customs office system could not function due to the fire, disrupting movement further.

A decision on when regular movement at the crossing will resume will only be made once the Chinese customs system is fully operational. “We have received information from the Chinese side that they are attempting to extinguish the fire and carry out inspections by dropping water from helicopters, as the fire has spread slightly into the area above Liping,” said Police Inspector Rai.

Meanwhile, locals say there is a risk of the fire spreading to the upper ridge area of Liping and the area around Kharani Pokhari. The fire is reported to be burning in the forest at the top of Bagam, which is roughly a 10-hour walk from the Maitri Bridge.

According to local residents, yak herders are alarmed by the fear that their grazing pastures will be destroyed as the fire spreads through the Chinese border forest area. Chinese security personnel have also reported seeing fire in areas above the Tatopani border crossing. All communications on the other side of the border have also been disrupted by the fire.