MUSTANG: More than 500 containers have been stranded at various points along the road between Lete and Korala in Mustang for the past week.
The containers have been stuck since the road was blocked by floods, landslides and snowfall following heavy rainfall on September 24 and 25. Road repair work is underway at several locations in Myagdi, including Pokharebagar, Kunote and Baisari, which were affected by the heavy rains.
Technicians involved in the road project said it could take another week for the road to fully reopen.
As the road remains blocked, more than 70 containers and over 100 electric vehicles have been stranded at the bus park in Jomsom.
Although the Beni-Jomsom road remains blocked, some containers carrying goods have reached Jomsom from Korala. The Kaligandaki Corridor Road Project transported some containers that had been stranded at the Mustang Customs Office to Jomsom after repairing the Jomsom-Korala section of the road.
Earlier, hundreds of containers were stranded after goods imported from China could not be cleared through customs due to disruptions to electricity and internet services in the border area caused by floods and landslides.
The central 33-kV electricity transmission line and internet services in Mustang were disrupted for a week after electricity poles were damaged at several locations along the Myagdi section by floods, landslides and river erosion. The disruption affected the regular operation of the Upper Mustang Customs Office.
Gobinda Gurung, a container driver stranded at the Korala border, said around 300 containers and more than 200 electric vehicles carrying goods imported from Korala were still waiting for customs clearance.
The delay in transporting goods imported from China for the Dashain and Tihar festivals has affected both traders and consumers, who have been unable to purchase goods of their choice on time. Traders have also expressed concern that the prolonged disruption could adversely affect business and the supply of goods in the Nepali market.
Comment