Mid-hill highway blocked by landslide in Eastern Rukum, passengers stranded

Heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening triggered landslides in Eastern Rukum, completely blocking the Mid-Hill Highway. The obstruction occurred at Kadabagar and Dhaula Pahiro in Bhume Rural Municipality-4, where debris-laden runoff cascaded onto the road.

Passenger buses and other vehicles traveling from Kathmandu towards Eastern Rukum, Western Rukum, and Dolpa are now halted, leaving numerous passengers stranded. The immediate priority is to clear the highway to restore connectivity.

Efforts to reopen the road are underway, with excavators and other heavy machinery deployed. However, the continuous rainfall is posing a significant challenge, making the removal of landslide debris difficult. "Continuous rainfall has made it difficult to remove the landslide debris," stated Eastern Rukum Chief District Officer Kopila Rai.

JCB excavators from the Sisne and Bhume rural municipalities have also been mobilized to assist in the clearing operation. Rai cautioned that the process could take considerable time due to the large scale of the landslide and damage to the road itself. The district administration is urging travelers to exercise caution, warning of the potential for further landslides as long as the rain persists.

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Continuous rainfall has made it difficult to remove the landslide debris.