Public transportation resumes, roads still blocked

KATHMANDU: JULY 20 – With the lockdown eased in the wake of declined cases of coronavirus in the Gulmi district, the local administration decided to resume public transportation. However, the roadways blocked and damaged by the landslides and floods are yet to open.

The roadways within the district including Beni-Jomsom have not resumed, thereby causing sheer inconvenience to the people. The transport entrepreneurs said although the administration allowed the operation of vehicles for five days, the rural roads need immediate repair and reconstruction. There is no condition to operate vehicles in the current state, according to them.

Myagdi Transport Entrepreneurs’ Committee chair Suman Shrestha said the floods and landslides that occurred in the district damaged the local roads which have caused difficulty to operate vehicles smoothly. “The landslide debris cleared during day is again piled up in the night when it rains. Regular maintenance of the road is imperative, otherwise, operation of public buses is impossible,” he shared the plight.

The obstruction of Beni-Jomsom and Beni-Darbang roads cut off supply to the Mustang, the district beyond Himalaya. The Beni-Jomsom road is damaged at least in nine places.

Altogether 17 rural roads are obstructed here. Only jeeps are operated now. There is no condition to operate public buses, Shrestha added.

Many passengers are stranded after the road blockade. However, the Road Division Office has informed that efforts were on to clear the obstruction and repair damaged roads. As it was still raining, it would take some more days, the Office added.