Rescuers celebrate after they cleared a blocked highway linking Tibet and Nepal in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, May 1, 2015. The Chinese side of a key highway linking Tibet and Nepal was cleared of obstructions on Friday morning, six days after an 8.1-magnitude earthquake in Nepal caused landslides that blocked the major trade and tourist route. (Xinhua/Chogo)
Chinese quake relief workers have removed a major landslide blocking Gyirong Pass in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, which was formed by the massive earthquake in neighboring Nepal on April 25.
Zham and Gyirong are the two passes that connect Tibet and Nepal. The mountain pass at the Gyirong Land Checkpoint was one of the hardest hit in China during the earthquake and ensuing tremors. Landslides cut off traffic via the pass and flattened the immigration and customs office on the Nepal side.
By Tuesday, Chinese armed police removed 80 tonnes of rock blocking the road, making a narrow space for vehicles carrying quake relief goods to enter into the area.
Xing Xiuyin, a police officer, said there are another 26 landslide sites on the road. More than 300 police using 30 heavy machines are still working against the clock to repair the road.
