Access road to Pokharebagar bridge in Myagdi reopened after 11 days of closure due to flood in Kali Gandaki river, promising to ease the traffic of locals, tourism business and tourists heading towards Jomsom, Muktinath and other places in Mustang during the busy season of mountain tourism in Nepal.
The partially reconnected Beni-Jomsom-Korala road currently allows only light vehicles to pass through the trial run since Thursday night. Authorities are working on the road to restore the free flow of traffic, but some more works needs to be done before it can be officially opened for all kinds of vehicles.
Flood Washed Away 20 Meter Road near Pokharebagar Bridge
The flood in Kali Gandaki river washed away nearly 20 meters of the surfaced road in the Pokharebagar bridge connecting Myagdi and Mustang. The damaged part of the road is located between the ward 2 and 6 of Annapurna rural municipality in Myagdi. The damaged approach Pokharebagar road of the bridge, which serves as the main trade route connecting southern Nepal with Mustang and the Chinese border at Korala, was reconnected on Thursday night by building a gabion on the bedrock and filling it with stones and soil, according to Tejaswi Sharma, the chief of Beni-Jomsom-Korala road project.
After reconnecting the Pokharebagar road, the trial run of light vehicle started on Thursday night to test the stability and the surface of the road. The project team had planned to complete the remaining job, including leveling the road by Saturday. Meanwhile, the authorities are working to clear other landslide-blocked roads in the corridor and reconnect them to restore the free flow of traffic.
Beni-Jomsom-Korala Road: A lifeline for Mustang Tourism
The Beni-Jomsom-Korala road is a part of the 202 km long Kaligandaki corridor, connecting Parbat, Myagdi and Mustang with the northern border of Nepal. It is not only the trade route for commercial goods but also the access road to some of the most popular Himalayan tourism destinations. Mustang is famous for its narrow mounthain passes, terraced farms, ancient monasteries, cultural heritage, and adventurous sports like trekking and climbing. Jomsom is the gateway to the Mustang and the Muktinath, Kagbeni and Upper Mustang are some of the major tourist destinations connected through this road.
In addition to domestic tourists, the Pokharebagar road also provides access to international tourists, business operators like hotels and guesthouses, and trekking agencies. The recent severe flooding and landslides blocked the road at many places, disconnecting Mustang from the rest of Nepal. The road authorities are working tirelessly to clear the blocked roads and reconnect the corridor. The road crews are working at different blocked locations, including removing landslide debris, building gabions, and cutting new paths to restore the free flow of traffic. The reconnection of the damaged approach road to light vehicles will be a great relief for the people and tourism business operators in Mustang and Myagdi.
However, the reconnection of the road does not guarantee the free flow of traffic as there are other blocked places in the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road that needs to be cleared. Besides, there is a possibility of sudden rain, landslides, and river erosion that might damage the road again. Therefore, it will be better for the tourist operators and travelers to stay in touch with the road blockage information and updates from the road authority and local people before heading towards Mustang.
Furthermore, the restoration of the Pokharebagar road is critical for the tourism business and the people living in this region. This will help them to prepare for the upcoming tourist season and assure a steady supply of goods and services. The latest update regarding the restoration of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road gives a sigh of relief to the people and tourism business operators in Mustang and Myagdi.
Source-RSS
