Myagdi, October 12
The landslide at Bhasbhase in Beni Municipality-2 has become the main challenge for the Baglung–Beni road, an alternative route linking Myagdi and Mustang to the national highway.
Rain from September 24 to 27 caused flood erosion at Bhasbhase, near the confluence of the Myagdi and Kali Gandaki rivers. The road has sunk and, in places, been washed away, disrupting vehicle movement and raising the risk of accidents.
The Kali Gandaki has also washed away the approach road to the Maldhunga road bridge linking Parbat and Baglung. As a result, vehicles travelling between Pokhara and Kathmandu from Baglung, Rukum East and West, and Jajarkot via the Mid-Hill Highway are also using the alternative Baglung–Beni–Maldhunga road.
Kamal Subedi of Khabra, Beni-2, said vehicles get stuck in mud where the road has sunk, cannot climb the slope, and cause traffic jams, and that the narrow road also poses an accident risk. “Because of river erosion and the landslide, the road has sunk and caved in by two to three metres over a stretch of 100 metres compared with its original level,” he said. “With the increased volume of vehicles, jams lasting hours are common.”
In fiscal year 2081/82, the Road Division Office, Baglung, carried out underground water management at the Bhasbhase landslide and laid concrete over the muddy section. The concreted road has now entirely sunk. Dil Kumari Khatri, acting chief of the District Coordination Committee, Myagdi, said the Road Division Office has carried out repairs and deployed equipment to manage traffic at Bhasbhase, but the adverse geography has prevented a solution.
“Even when the Road Division lays gravel, it compacts and sinks, and by the next day the situation is the same as before,” she said. “Since the road keeps sinking and caving in, stuck vehicles are being pulled out with the help of bulldozers.” Khabra village has also been put at risk by the Bhasbhase landslide.
Acting DCC chief Khatri said an initiative has been taken through the Road Division Office to build a masonry wall and embankment at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Myagdi rivers, and to grade and pave the landslide-affected section.
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