Landslides and rising river isolate Kanchanpur village

Khalla Musetti village in Kanchanpur, Nepal, faces its annual isolation as monsoon rains trigger landslides and swell the Mahakali river, cutting off hundreds of families from essential services. The disruptions have begun anew with the onset of this year's rainy season, turning daily life into a struggle.

Residents like Rup Singh Pali express recurring worries each monsoon. "As soon as it rains, landslides block the road, and it has to be cleared again," Pali said. While passable in the dry season, heavy rain renders the road completely unusable. Even a recently opened alternative track through the Chure hills, part of the Mahakali Corridor project, has repeatedly succumbed to landslides since the rains started.

“

As soon as it rains, landslides block the road, and it has to be cleared again. We can get around during the dry season, but heavy rain makes the road completely impassable.

The situation is dire for transportation. Vehicles can barely reach Selfie Danda from Brahmadev, and the road beyond is entirely cut off after floodwaters washed away culvert pipes at the Kaligad river. "When the river is in flood, even pedestrians cannot cross," said resident Harish Saud. "The culvert pipes were washed away as soon as the monsoon began, leaving all vehicles stranded. If someone falls seriously ill at night, there is no way to get them to a hospital."

“

When the river is in flood, even pedestrians cannot cross. The culvert pipes were washed away as soon as the monsoon began, leaving all vehicles stranded. If someone falls seriously ill at night, there is no way to get them to a hospital.

Beyond the road access issues, villagers are increasingly concerned about electricity. Power poles, installed in a Mahakali river channel during construction, are now submerged and at risk of being swept away. Two poles have already collapsed, and residents fear further outages. "The road is already in poor condition, and we don’t know when the power could go out," Pali said. Despite repeated appeals to local and federal representatives, the Nepal Electricity Authority, and the district administration to relocate the poles, they remain precariously positioned.

Brahmadev, the primary commercial hub for Khalla Musetti residents, is crucial for daily necessities and government services. Medical emergencies require travel to Mahendranagar or Tanakpur, India. The blocked roads make even reaching Brahmadev a significant challenge. Locals have consistently urged authorities to repair the road and relocate the power poles, but little action has been taken, leaving them vulnerable as the Mahakali river continues to rise.

“

The road is already in poor condition, and we don’t know when the power could go out. We’ve appealed to the local government, our provincial and federal representatives, the Nepal Electricity Authority and the district administration to relocate the poles, but they are still standing in the middle of the river.