Chinese soldiers repair highway in Nepal

Lhasa, August 2: An emergency squad of Chinese soldiers has been sent to Nepal to repair a highway blocked by landslides, authorities said.

China's State Council and Central Military Commission decided to send 100 armed police officers on Saturday for the China-Nepal Highway repair after receiving an emergency aid request from the Nepalese government, Xinhua news agency reported.

They entered Nepal on Saturday morning through the Zham port on the Nepal-China border.

Chinese armed police also took part in the Nepal mega quake relief in April and May.

The squad will be faced with difficulty and danger as the Nepalese part of the highway is severely damaged by days of downpour, which may continue for another 20 days, said Fu Ling, commander in chief of the Chinese armed police traffic relief commandos.

The 943-km China-Nepal Highway connects Lhasa, capital of Tibet, with the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu.

IANS