Recent heavy rainfall has triggered multiple landslides in Raghu Ganga and Annapurna Rural Municipalities, significantly disrupting transportation on the Beni-Jomsom-Korla road, the primary route connecting Mustang to the national highway. The road, particularly the Danaque-Timang section, has been severely affected by continuous landslides, causing daily travel interruptions and impacting tourism in the region.
The obstruction has left locals from Myagdi’s Raghu Ganga, Annapurna Rural Municipalities, and Mustang, as well as pilgrims and tourists, stranded for hours. Bharat Kumar Pun, Chair of Annapurna Rural Municipality, reported that landslides in Baisari, Siruwari, and Guithebhir have been active since the onset of the monsoon. “Travel during the monsoon season from Naulibagar, Khamvitta, Titar, Rupse, Khabrebhir, Ghoptebhir to Letet in Mustang has become risky and arduous,” Pun added, sharing his experience of being stuck in a traffic jam for six hours on his way to Pokharebagar from Beni.
Sombir Pariyar of Thasang Rural Municipality-4 in Mustang highlighted the challenges faced by travelers due to the recurring landslides in Baisari. “We have to cross quickly during the brief pauses between landslides, risking getting buried under falling debris at any moment,” he said.
The landslide in Baisari has expanded to a 400-meter wide and 500-meter long slope, with large stones and debris continuously falling onto the road, posing a severe threat to vehicles and passengers. Suresh Century, a local driver, recounted incidents where vehicles were damaged and passengers were injured by falling rocks.
The landslide, which first occurred two years ago in Baisari, became more active last year, tragically claiming the life of a vehicle driver. Recently, an Eco van traveling from Jomsom to Beni (Ba 026 Ch 7053) was buried by a landslide, following a similar incident where a Bolero jeep was buried in Guithebhir late last month.
No alternative routes are available, leaving the 76-kilometer Beni-Jomsom road as the only option for travel and transport of agricultural produce like potatoes. This disruption has severely impacted the flow of tourists, who are a vital source of income for the local economy. According to Dhruba Kumar Jha, Chief of the Beni-Jomsom-Korla Road Project, there are currently 14 landslide-prone areas along the road. “We face difficulties in carrying out repairs and maintaining transportation services due to a lack of budget for landslide prevention and control,” Jha explained, noting that the Department of Roads has deployed equipment and technical staff for temporary solutions.
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development and Transport Management has requested a detailed study and budget for a comprehensive landslide prevention plan, as the original road construction did not adequately assess landslide-prone areas.
Chief District Officer Laxman Dhakal, who inspected the Baisari landslide site on Wednesday, reported that equipment, technical staff, laborers, and security personnel have been mobilized for short-term landslide control and to maintain transportation services. The authorities continue to work on mitigating the impact of the landslides and ensuring the safety of travelers.
The landslides not only hinder transportation but also threaten to deter tourists, who contribute significantly to the local economy. Immediate and effective measures are crucial to restore normalcy and promote tourism in the region.
