Vehicular movement along the Bhimdatta Highway, which connects Dhangadhi to Dadeldhura, has been obstructed due to multiple landslides.

Various sections along the Dhangadhi-Dadeldhura road have caved in due to multiple landslides during the monsoon rains this year.

The Dhangadhi-Dadeldhura road section is considered a major lifeline of seven districts of the Sudurpaschim Province. Over 500 vehicles operate along the road section on a daily basis, according to the data of the District Traffic Police Office in Kailali.

According to the traffic office, sharp bends and steep road surfaces have caused several accidents along the road section.

A 50-metre section of the road had caved in during last year’s monsoon. However, the damaged road has yet to be repaired.

“The road is open for one-way traffic at present,” said Dabal Bahadur Raut, a transport entrepreneur in Dhangadhi.

Raghunath Jaishi, a businessman in Kailali, says the road obstruction has made it difficult to supply goods into the district.

“The operation of goods carriers and large passenger vehicles along the road has come to a halt. The concerned authority did not pay attention to repair the damaged road sections on time,” Jaishi said.

The Dhangadhi-Dadeldhura road connects seven hill districts of Sudurpaschim Province with Dhangadhi bazaar, the provincial capital.

“We don’t understand why the concerned authority is not taking initiatives to repair the damaged road sections,” said Surya Prasad Ojha, a resident of Doti. “The festive season is near, hence the flow of vehicles has increased of late. But the road is in a dilapidated condition, putting the lives of all passengers at risk.”

According to Superintendent of Police Bamdev Gautam, also the chief at the Sudurpaschim Provincial Traffic Police Office, the road has become accident prone due to multiple landslides.

“We have warned all bus drivers to be vigilant while on the road. It is the responsibility of the Division Road Office to repair the damaged road sections on time,” Gautam said.

According to the Division Road Office in Mahendranagar, a budget of Rs 50 million has been released to repair the damaged road sections from Godavari to Phaltude along the Dhangadhi-Dadeldhura road in the current fiscal year.

“The road repair work will start after the completion of the tender process,” said Narendra Bhatta, chief at the Division Road Office in Mahendranagar, adding that the repair work will gather momentum after the Dashain and Tihar festivals.