Repair work intensified on Beni-Jomsom-Korala road after floods
MYAGDI: Repair and reconstruction work has been intensified along several sections of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road under Kaligandaki Corridor after floods and landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.
The 202-kilometre road, which links Pang in Kushma Municipality-1, Parbat, with the Korala border point in China via Beni in Myagdi and Mustang districts, was disrupted at 55 locations. Flooding of Kaligandaki River damaged or washed away 10 sections following heavy rain from September 24 to 27.
Tejaswi Sharma, chief of Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road Project, said preliminary repairs have been completed at all affected sites except Kunauta in Raghuganga Rural Municipality-2 and the bridge approach at Pokharebagar in Annapurna Rural Municipality. The sections from Maldhunga to Kunauta and from Korala to Pokharebagar have been reopened to heavy vehicles.
Landslide clearance and construction of alternative routes have been finished at Ratopani, Dhirchyang, Bhirkate, Mahabhir, Tiplyang and Begkhola. At Kunauta, about 250 metres of road was washed away; four excavators and tippers are being used to restore the section, and a gabion wall is being built at Pokharebagar.
Narendra Subedi, head of the Federal Road Supervision and Monitoring Office in Pokhara, said efforts are underway to reopen the remaining sections by Monday. The Department of Roads estimates roughly Rs 3 billion will be needed for reconstruction.
The Korala border point is strategically important for Nepal-China trade, particularly while the Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani border points remain closed. Myagdi's Chief District Officer (CDO) Ganesh Gaire said the government is treating the restoration of the road to the border point as a high priority.
By RSS
