MYAGDI: Volunteer youths have launched a campaign to make it easier and safer for residents, pilgrims and tourists to travel on foot along the blocked Beni-Jomsom road in the northern part of Myagdi.
A team of youths led by Prakash Poudel of Beni worked on Friday to place flags and ropes at difficult sections of the road in the Rahupare and Kunouta areas. Poudel said a group of 15 volunteers also cut and removed trees that were obstructing pedestrian movement.
“We launched the campaign for the convenience of passengers who are forced to walk to their destinations until the road is repaired and regular transport services resume,” Poudel said. “We appealed through social media and invited friends to join the initiative to make movement along the road easier and safer.”
The Beni-Jomsom road, which was blocked by floods and landslides following last week’s heavy rains, remains difficult to traverse on foot at several points along the Myagdi section.
The 33-kilometre Beni-Jomsom road, which carried thousands of vehicles daily until a week ago, has been damaged by landslides, erosion along the Kali Gandaki River and floods. In some sections, the paved road has collapsed, while other portions have been washed away and damaged beyond recognition.
Until the road is repaired, tourists, pilgrims, traders and local residents stranded in Mustang have little choice but to walk along the damaged route to reach their destinations for essential purposes. However, travelling on foot along the road is both difficult and risky.
The Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Project said repairs have been completed at 41 of the 46 locations that were blocked during the recent disruption.
Project Chief Tejashwi Sharma said repair work is currently underway in the Tilkenichour, Khambhitta and Bhurung Tatopani sections of Myagdi.
Sharma said efforts have been intensified to reopen the road connecting to the blocked Korala border point as soon as possible, with additional fuel, equipment, machinery and workers being deployed at multiple locations.
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