HUMLA: Incessant rainfall has severely disrupted transportation across Humla, with floods, landslides and rockfalls blocking major highways and rural roads in several parts of the district.
The district’s road network has been affected after damage to the Simkot–Hilsa road linking Nepal with the Chinese border, the Karnali Corridor and rural roads connecting all seven rural municipalities.
According to District Police Office Chief Deputy Superintendent of Police Shankar Khadka, landslides and falling rocks have blocked roads at multiple locations, while floods have washed away culverts and other road structures. He said obtaining a complete assessment of the damage has been difficult because of power outages in the district headquarters.
Khadka said landslides and rockfalls have obstructed several sections of the Karnali Corridor between Kawadi and Hilsa, with large boulders completely blocking the road at some locations. The Kawadi–Giusi section has been reopened after debris and rocks were cleared, while efforts are underway to restore the remaining sections.
Continuous rainfall has also damaged rural roads connecting ward centres and settlements in all seven rural municipalities. The road leading to the centre of Tanjakot Rural Municipality has sustained damage at several locations, while the road connecting the centre of Adanchuli Rural Municipality with wards 5 and 6 has been blocked, according to Ward 5 member Singh Bohora.
Chief District Officer Bholanath Guragain said landslides have occurred at more than 70 locations along rural roads. He said the district administration is coordinating with all rural municipalities to reopen the blocked routes.
Assistant Chief District Officer Chandrabir Shahi said the District Administration Office has been holding regular command-post meetings since Sunday to coordinate efforts to clear the roads and restore transportation.
Meanwhile, roads leading to Nara Lake in Namkha Rural Municipality-5 and Nyalu Lake in Ward No. 6 of northern Humla have been blocked by around three and a half feet of snow. Police said the routes are unlikely to reopen until the snow is cleared.
The widespread disruption to both main and rural roads has affected the transportation of food and essential supplies, the movement of patients and the delivery of other essential services across Humla.
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