Closure of Beni-Jomsom-Korala road hits pilgrims

Phalebas (Parbat) - The closure of Beni-Jomsom-Korala road section for the past three days has caused inconvenience to the people especially those who had been in Kagbeni of Mustang to observe the 'Sorha Shradhha/Pitri Paksha'. 

'Sorha Shradhha/Pitri Paksha is a fortnight in which the Hindus perform rituals in remembrance of the ancestors and make offerings. 

The road was closed, following a landslide triggered by incessant rains at Kavre Cliff of Annapurna Municipality, Myagdi. This is the sole route connecting Myagdi with Mustang, a district beyond the Himalaya. 
Pilgrims who have been Kagbeni, Mustang to perform the annual rituals of their ancestors on the occasion of the Sorha Shradha have left stranded. Most of them have stuck at Ghansa of the district. Vehicles heading to Mustang and vice versa have been stranded midway, according to eyewitness Ganesh Khatri. 

Mustang's Chief District Officer Krishna Prasad Adhikari said presently it seems no possibility to resume the traffic as the district continues to see rainfalls. Pilgrims are suffering chills due to the continuous rains. 
Two dozers and one excavator have been sent from the Road Division Office, Balgung to clear off the landslide deposition. 

Land route has been becoming the choice of people/pilgrims/ tourists to visit Mustang as it is economically cheaper than travel by air and they believe this route safer than flights at the backdrop of increasing cases of air crashes of late.