India has closed vital routes between this landlocked Himalayan nation and the rest of the world as part of a trade dispute, Nepalese officials say.

The officials said all but two of the 13 transit routes on the India-Nepal border were closed Friday, a day after trade and transit treaties between the two countries expired with negotiations for renewal at an impasse.

Mountainous Nepal, sandwiched between India and China, relies on India for almost half its total imports and most essential commodities.

Although Katmandu has said there are comfortable reserves of essential commodities, rationing of kerosene and other basics has begun already.