Multiple landslides along Tansen-Butwal section leave passengers in hardship
Residents have for long complained that the authorities concerned have not taken concrete initiatives to resolve the landslide problem in the area sustainably. Transportation was disrupted for two hours after a huge boulder fell on the road at Mathillo Siddababa on Saturday. Madhab Aryal/TKP
Recurring landslides along the 39-km-long Tansen-Butwal road stretch have left hundreds of passengers in hardship.
The landslides, triggered by heavy rains, occurred in Siddababa, Kalimati, Kerabari, Chaubismail, Jumsa and Panimill areas for the past three days.
The police are currently removing debris, but it is proving to be difficult as landslides are continuously occurring because of constant rainfall in the area, said police.
Transportation on the road stretch had been disrupted for about two hours as well because a huge boulder fell on the road at Mathillo Siddababa area on Saturday morning. “The road was blocked as the boulder fell at around 9 am. We resumed transportation after two hours. We don’t know when the landslide will occur again,” said Bal Bahadur Ghartimagar, a police officer at Dobhan Police Post.
On Friday, a landslide buried two jeeps in Siddababa area, killing one and injuring four others. According to Ghartimagar, the Tansen-Butwal section of the Siddhartha Highway has already been obstructed twice.
Travelling along the section, especially during the rainy season, has been quite risky. “We don’t know when a landslide will occur and disrupt traffic along the road. It is very dangerous to travel along the road in the rainy season,” Bishnu Pandey, a motorcyclist who was stuck in jam after the landslide, told the Post.
The Division Road Office in Palpa has suggested people travel along the section only after learning about the condition of the road.
The Siddababa area is a highly landslide-prone zone, with landslides disrupting the highway every year. Residents have for long complained that the authorities concerned have not taken concrete initiatives to resolve the problem sustainably.
Preparation on to construct tunnel in the area
The federal government has allocated Rs 500 million to construct a tunnel along the Siddababa area. “A Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared and submitted to the government. Tunnel construction will begin soon,” said Kedar Nepal, chief at the division road office. The DPR suggests constructing 1,124 metres long tunnel in the landslide-prone area.
17.12°C Kathmandu.jpg)
