Around 1 km road is buried under the landslide while nearly 2 km has been swamped under the artificial lake formed after the landslide blocked the Sunkoshi River, said Tulasi Sitaula, secretary at the ministry. In effect, the 12-km stretch between Khadichaur and Bahrabise has been off-limits to vehicles.

Sitaula said that the inoperable section of the highway could be opened to vehicles as soon as the water level of the dammed lake recedes by 10 metres. “This could, however, take around two months, until Dashain. As an interim relief, two alternate routes have been marked,” said Sitaula.

The first option is the Sindhupalchok section of Lamosanghu-Jiri road. Vehicles from Kathmandu will have to steer off the highway at Khadichaur, cross over the Sunkoshi bridge and travel up the hill past Sildhunga, Touthali, Tekanpur, Dhuskun to reach Bahrabise.

Three kilometres before Bahrabise, however, a Nepal Army team will have to build a bailey bridge over Sunkoshi and bulldoze a track along the eastern bank of the Bhotekoshi river to reach the bazaar, said Sitaula. “Right now, people have to get off the vehicle once they reach the Bahrabise end of the Sunkoshi, cross the river via a suspension bridge and follow a trail to Bahrabise.”

The only challenge, said Sitaula, was the length of this unpaved alternative route: 45 km.

The second option is to follow an 18-km path parallel to the Araniko highway across the River. “The local residents have already bulldozed a road, but the Army will try to shorten it by five kilometres,” said Sitaula. This section needs another bailey bridge over a seasonal river called Dabi.

Contrary to reports, Sitaula said that the 30-km Khandichaur-Andheri-Ramche-Bahrabise road was not an option. “The road is unpaved, steep, goes right over the landslide and is not wide enough for a two-way traffic,” said Sitaula.

Possible new routes

- First option: Sindhupalchok section of the Lamosanghu-Jiri road. Vehicles leaving from Kathmandu to steer off Araniko Highway at Khadichaur, cross Sunkoshi Bridge and travel up the hill past Sildhunga, Touthali, Tekanpur, Dhuskun to reach Bahrabise

- Second option: Follow an 18-km path parallel to Araniko Highway across the River. This section requires another bailey bridge over a seasonal river called Dabi.