Rescue of stranded passengers in Dhunche begins by road

KATHMANDU: The rescue of passengers stranded in Dhunche following the August 26 floods in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa has begun by road.

The Bagmati Province government has arranged an alternative route to bring pilgrims, tourists and other members of the public stranded in Dhunche to the Kathmandu Valley. Chief Minister Kiran Thapa Magar coordinated the arrangements.

Chief Minister Thapa said arrangements had been made to provide food to those stranded in Dhunche before transporting them to Mahabir by vehicle. From Mahabir, they will walk for about an hour before crossing Chaugati, where vehicles will take them onward to Kathmandu.

“We have made arrangements to provide food to the people stranded in Dhunche. After feeding them, we will transport them to Mahabir by vehicle. From there, they will walk for about an hour, cross Chaugati and then continue to Kathmandu by vehicle,” Thapa said.

He added that the provincial government has arranged free buses for stranded passengers being rescued and transported to Kathmandu.

The provincial government has also arranged food for stranded people in Chaugati in addition to Dhunche.

Meanwhile, the Bagmati Province government has intensified efforts to restore road connectivity by repairing the Mid-Hill Highway, which was obstructed in the Trishuli area. Once the road is reopened, people from Rasuwa and other affected areas will be able to use it as an alternative route to Kathmandu.

Rasuwa reconnected to road network

The road network in Rasuwa, which was disrupted by the sudden flooding of the Bhote Koshi River on Wednesday morning, has been partially restored.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the road section from Kathmandu–Tokha–Chhahare–Gadhkhar Bridge–Aapra–Nanja–Lachhyang–Sarmathali–Patikharka via Bogetitar–Kalikasthan to Dhunche has reopened to small four-wheeled vehicles.

With the reopening of the road section, Rasuwa has been reconnected to the national road network, according to the authority. The restored road link is expected to facilitate the delivery of relief supplies, rescue operations and transportation of essential goods to flood-affected areas.