National
Landslide blocks Karnali Highway
Surkhet-Jumla road section has faced frequent disruptions since the onset of the monsoon.Tularam Pandey
The Karnali Highway has been again blocked due to a landslide triggered by overnight rain on Saturday. The landslide affected multiple areas in Kalikot, including Hulm, S-turn, Gaganekhola, and Daikhola, causing significant traffic disruptions.
Govinda Chaudhary, information officer at the Kalikot District Police Office, said the highway had just reopened after a five-day closure due to a previous landslide but has now been obstructed again. “There is minor obstruction at Hulm and the S-turn, but around 20 metres of the road has been washed away at Gaganekhola,” said Chaudhary. He said two excavators are working on the site, and the road may be cleared by the evening.
Top Bahadur Mahatara, in charge of the Kalikot District Traffic Office, said vehicles from Jumla and Mugu are parked at the Tadi bus park in Kalikot. “We have halted vehicles at Manma, while those coming via the Karnali Corridor from Bajura are stopped at Lalighat and Khulalu,” he said.
Since the monsoon began, the 232-km-long Surkhet-Jumla section of the Karnali Highway has experienced frequent disruptions due to landslides.