KHADBARI: Transport along the Koshi Highway has come to a complete halt for the past three days after a massive landslide struck the Hunggung section in Bhotkhola.
The highway, which connects Khadbari to the Kimathanka border point and stretches about 115 kilometers, was blocked by the landslide on Thursday. Since then, vehicles have been unable to pass, stranding passengers and disrupting the supply of daily essentials, fuel, and construction materials.
According to Ram Bahadur Gurung, chief of the North–South Koshi Road Project, the landslide swept across nearly 300 meters of road, bringing down rocks, soil, and bushes along with part of the hillside. “Because the road is still under construction, it is not possible to use heavy equipment here. The steep terrain and continuous rainfall have made the clearance work even more challenging,” he explained.
Local authorities say that while landslides are common in the region during the monsoon season, this one is particularly severe. The scale of the debris has left officials unable to predict when the highway will reopen.
Efforts are underway to remove the blockage, but persistent rain and the unstable slope continue to hamper progress. Gurung added that, for now, there is little possibility of traffic resuming in the immediate future.
The disruption has hit both travelers and traders hard. With the only key road link to Kimathanka shut down, supplies to northern Sankhuwasabha and bordering areas remain uncertain.
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