MYAGDI: A landslide at Bhasbhase in Beni Municipality-2 in Myagdi has emerged as a major challenge for the alternative Baglung-Beni road, which connects Myagdi and Mustang to the national highway network.
Heavy rainfall on October 6 and 7 caused floodwaters to erode and wash away a section of the road near the confluence of the Myagdi and Kaligandaki rivers. The damage has disrupted vehicle movement and increased the risk of accidents.
After the Kaligandaki River washed away the approach road to the Maldhunga road bridge connecting Parbat and Baglung, vehicles travelling between Baglung, Rukum East and West, and Pokhara and Kathmandu, as well as those coming from Jajarkot via the Mid-Hill Highway, have also been using the alternative Baglung-Beni-Maldhunga route.
Kamal Subedi of Khabar, Beni-2, said vehicles frequently get stuck in mud at the damaged section and struggle to climb uphill. The narrow road has also led to traffic congestion and increased the risk of accidents.
“River erosion and landslides have damaged the road, causing sections to collapse by two to three metres along a stretch of about 100 metres,” he said. “The increased volume of traffic has led to frequent traffic jams lasting several hours.”
During the fiscal year 2081/82 BS, the Road Division Office in Baglung had managed drainage in the landslide-prone area and reshaped the road. However, the repaired sections have now collapsed again.
Dil Kumari Khatri, acting chief of the District Coordination Committee in Myagdi, said the Road Division Office had carried out repairs and deployed equipment to facilitate traffic movement, but the challenging terrain had made it difficult to resolve the problem.
“Even if the Road Division Office lays gravel on the road, the situation returns to its previous state by the following day,” she said. “As the road continues to sink, vehicles that become trapped have had to be rescued with the help of bulldozers.” The frequent landslides have also put Khabara village at risk.
Khatri said initiatives had been taken through the Road Division Office to construct a concrete retaining wall at the confluence of the Kaligandaki and Myagdi rivers, improve the road gradient, and pave the landslide-affected sections.