Landslides render Karnali Highway unsafe, urgent upgrades needed

Surkhet, August 30 — Continuous rain since Wednesday has caused a landslide that has severely damaged the Karnali Highway (Surkhet-Jumla). As a result, dozens of vehicles traveling between Surkhet and Upper Karnali are stranded.

The landslides have affected five locations in Kalikot district and four spots in the Dailekh section. According to the police, significant landslides have impacted the highway in Shubhkalika Rural Municipality-1 (Gagane Khola, Esmode, Dahikhola), Khandachakra Municipality-2 (Jitegada), and Kalekhola in Kalikot district. In Meyarkhola, a large boulder has blocked the road.

Additionally, in Aathabis Municipality-5 of Dailekh, a landslide has completely destroyed the road and damaged nearby houses.

Harilal Sejuwal, in-charge of the Raakam Karnali Area Police Office, informed that landslides have affected various locations including Kittu Bhir, Dahikhola, and Khurakhola towards Dailekh.

The landslide at Gaganekhola has rendered the highway unrecognizable. Engineer Bir Bahadur JT from the Road Division Office in Jumla noted that Shubhakalika Rural Municipality had previously opened a makeshift track in the area. However, a new landslide has now washed away this temporary road.

The culvert bridge at Dahikhola has also been damaged, and a truck is stuck there. According to the Road Division Offices in Surkhet and Jumla, it will take at least three days to reopen the road towards Dailekh and about a week towards Kalikot.

Heavy machinery is being used to clear the landslides. JT mentioned that an additional machine has been dispatched from Jumla, and another is stationed at the damaged site. The Road Division Office in Jumla manages the area from Dahikhola to Jumla, while the Surkhet office oversees the Surkhet to Dahikhola stretch.

Engineer Top Narayan Poudel from the Surkhet Road Division Office indicated that a malfunctioning machine has been replaced with an excavator. He estimated that, if the new equipment arrives by evening, it would take 3-4 days to restore the road to Dailekh, and about a week for the stretch to Kalikot.

Why do landslides repeatedly affect the same areas?

Gagnekhola, Dahikhola, and Esmode on the Karnali Highway have experienced multiple landslides and road damage over the years.

In response to Ratopati's inquiry about why landslides continue to occur despite repeated road construction efforts, Engineer Bir Bahadur JT from the Road Division Office in Jumla explained, "These areas are naturally very challenging. With a steep mountain above, once a landslide occurs, planting vegetation to stabilize the soil is not effective. This leads to frequent landslides."

The area has been designated as a 'critical zone' by road division officials, and vehicle accidents are common there. Over the past six months, there have been ten significant landslides in these three main locations. After each landslide, the road division works to clear the debris, but new landslides occur as soon as it rains again.

Engineer JT added that the problem has been reported to the road department for a long-term solution. "The nature of these areas, similar to Krishna Bhir on the Prithivi Highway, needs further study. We have repeatedly requested the department to send a study team," he said.

Rashtriya Swotantra Party MP Binita Kathayat has proposed an upgrade for the Karnali Highway in the House of Representatives, highlighting its importance to the region. She argues that a long-term solution requires research and new technology, as current methods and machinery cause additional damage. The Karnali Highway, often referred to as the 'road of death,' remains unsafe.

Many lives are lost annually due to accidents on this narrow and deteriorating highway. Despite this, the state has only allocated funds for road maintenance rather than significant improvements.

MP Binita Kathayat's proposal, which was registered on Wednesday, has been supported by other MPs, including Sobita Gautam, Maina Karki, Ammar Bahadur Thapa, Anisha Nepali, Kantika Sejuwal, Chandra Bahadur Bishwakarma, Sumana Shrestha, Tosima Karki, and Chhiring Lama.

The proposal calls for the federal government's attention to the highway's upgrade, emphasizing its role in Karnali's economic prosperity and livelihood. It notes that the old surface has deteriorated, increasing accident risks due to potholes. The narrow road and delays during construction have compounded the suffering of Karnali’s residents. The proposal suggests that budget allocations for both highway restoration and paving will support sustainable development in the region.