Eastern Rukum, August 13
The Mid-Hill Highway has been blocked in Eastern Rukum following heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening. The highway was obstructed after debris-laden runoff and landslides fell at Kadabagar and Dhaula Pahiro in Bhume Rural Municipality-4. Passenger buses and other vehicles travelling from Kathmandu towards Eastern Rukum, Western Rukum and Dolpa have been halted along the route, leaving passengers stranded.
Efforts are underway to clear the blocked road using excavators and other equipment. However, continuous rainfall has made it difficult to remove the landslide debris, according to Eastern Rukum Chief District Officer Kopila Rai. According to Rai, JCB excavators from Sisne and Bhume rural municipalities have also been mobilised to reopen the road. She said it could take some time to fully resume traffic as the landslide is large and the road itself has also been damaged.
The district administration has urged travellers to exercise caution, warning that further landslides could occur as long as the rainfall continues.
