MUSTANG: Landslides have obstructed the Kagbeni-Korala road at ten different locations following continuous rainfall since Thursday night. Floods mixed with mud have damaged several sections of the road, making travel impossible.
Chief District Officer (CDO) Bishnu Prasad Bhusal informed that the road structure has been severely affected by floods and mudslides along the Kagbeni–Chhusang section of the Korala road.
Although efforts are being made to reopen the route using heavy equipment, he said the road is unlikely to be operational immediately. According to him, the rainfall has also disrupted communication services in the affected areas.
The road was first blocked on Friday morning after multiple landslides struck the stretch between Kagbeni and Chaile in Waragung Muktikshetra-3. Ward Chairperson of Waragung Muktikshetra, Pramesh Gurung, stated that floods and mudslides have completely destroyed the road structure between Kagbeni and Tangwe along the Kagbeni-Korla section, with blockages reported at more than four locations.
Similarly, incessant rainfall has caused further damage along the Tangwe–Chhusang section, where the Tangwe River has washed away portions of the road.
Around 35 meters of the road above Mustang Gate in Waragung Muktikshetra has also collapsed due to a landslide, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Tshiring Kippa Lama of the District Police Office. He said the damage occurred after a retaining wall along the road gave way.
On Saturday, a team led by CDO Bhusal inspected the rain-blocked Kagbeni–Chhusang section. Three pieces of heavy equipment have been deployed to carry out repairs and reopen the road.
The Kaligandaki Corridor (Beni–Jomsom–Korala Road Project) has also mobilized its resources, sending two additional machines and a loader from the Myagdi section to assist.
Ward Chairperson of Baragung-4, Karma Ghyacho Gurung, said the road cannot be reopened immediately due to extensive structural damage along the Kagbeni–Chhusang stretch. Although repair works began on Saturday, he estimated it would take several days to restore traffic movement, given the scale of the destruction caused by floods and landslides. The District Administration Office, Mustang, has urged the public to avoid travel on the route until further notice.
Earlier, the Jomsom–Kagbeni road was blocked at three locations due to landslides triggered by Thursday night’s rainfall. The local administration cleared the debris using bulldozers on Saturday morning, reopening the route after 24 hours and easing travel for pilgrims heading to Muktinath.
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