The road connecting the popular tourist village of Bhuktangle has been blocked for over a month, causing significant disruption. The Patischour-Lapsibot road, which links the three wards of Deupur, Deurali, and Bhuktangle in Modi Rural Municipality to the Mid-Hill Highway, remains impassable after a major landslide struck on July 10th (Ashadh, 26).
The landslide, which occurred in Korunga of Ward No. 2, Modi Rural Municipality, buried approximately two kilometers of the paved road, and resident Bhumi Raj Sharma reported that the road structure itself has been severely damaged. Various sections, including Jaruwa, Pani Khola, and Korunga, have been covered by debris, while in some places, the road has been washed away entirely.
Despite more than a month passing since the landslide, no efforts have been made to clear the road. Residents have expressed their frustration, claiming that the rural municipality has neglected the issue. The prolonged roadblock has caused considerable hardship for travelers and has disrupted the supply of essential goods, according to Tek Bahadur Gurung, the Ward Chairperson of Ward No. 1, Bhuktangle.
The roadblock has also severely impacted the tourism sector, with over two dozen homestays in Bhuktangle and Lapsibot left deserted. Tourists who typically visit nearby attractions such as Hampal, Mohore Danda, and Nagi have been unable to reach these destinations.
Dozens of vehicles have been stranded in Korunga for over a month, forcing locals to walk nearly two kilometers on foot. The lack of road access has also hindered medical emergencies, with residents like Santosh Timilsina reporting that ambulances cannot reach the village. In cases of severe illness, pregnancy, or childbirth, patients have had to be carried to the hospital in bamboo baskets.
The road closure has further disrupted the daily commute of employees and teachers, who have had to leave their vehicles in Patischour and trek uphill. Ward No. 2 Chairperson Bel Bahadur Karki stated that it is currently challenging to reopen the damaged road, and efforts are being made to upgrade and utilize the Beteni-Gauda-Rahale road as an alternative route. However, the alternative road is slippery and muddy, making it difficult for vehicles to pass, according to drivers.
“Vehicles try to use the alternative road, but it is so challenging that some have to turn back,” said resident Mithu Chapagai. Another resident, Rajesh Giri, lamented that the authorities have neglected a stretch of about 1.5 kilometers that could have been easily repaired to allow regular traffic flow.
Giri and others have urged the local, provincial, and central governments to invest in upgrading the alternative road into a permanent route to avoid future disruptions during the monsoon. Rural Municipality Chairperson Hiradevi Sharma acknowledged the recurring issues caused by the unstable terrain and assured that efforts would be made to clear the blocked road. She also mentioned that consultations with the Rural Road Network Improvement Project are ongoing to repair the road, which has deteriorated over the years due to annual landslides.
