An avalanche originating from Mount Dhaulagiri on Friday afternoon has blocked the Bokse Khola in Thasang Rural Municipality-2, Mustang. Bokse Khola is a tributary of the Kali Gandaki River. The avalanche occurred near Mulkhark, a mountain gorge where snow has accumulated, reducing the water flow in Bokse Khola, according to Gautam Sherchan, Ward Chairman of Thasang-2, Kowang.
“At around 1:30 PM on Friday, the avalanche descended from the base of Mount Dhaulagiri and piled up in the gorge,” Sherchan explained, adding, “The accumulation of snow has caused a noticeable decrease in the water volume of the river.”
In response to the event, the Mustang District Administration Office has issued a public notice urging caution along the banks of Bokse Khola. While there are no nearby settlements, the Beni-Jomsom road runs along the river, prompting further precautions.
Mustang’s Chief District Officer Janak Raj Pant, who is stationed in Kowang, confirmed that a team of Armed Police Force personnel has been dispatched to the avalanche site. “Drone observations of the area did not show the formation of a lake from the blocked river, suggesting that the risk may be lower. However, caution is still advised,” Pant stated. Travelers on the Beni-Jomsom road are being urged to remain vigilant near Bokse Khola.
In addition, local herders and farmers who had taken their livestock to graze near the river have been moved to safer locations.
