Mechi hills cut off from road access due to landslides

By Kokila Dhakal, Ilam, July 21: People in the Mechi hills-Taplejung, Pachthar and Ilam- have remained cut off from road access to other parts of country as the roads including the Mechi highway have been obstructed due to landslides for over 15 days.

Raj Duwali road section at Mai Khola area along the Mechi highway has been blocked for the last 15 days while diversions made at Puwa Khola and Jogmai Khola have been swept away, which have cut off the hills from reaching the plains in Jhapa through the motor roads.

Arjun Ghimire, engineer at the road division office, Ilam, said that diversions have been repeatedly swept away at these two streams during rainy seasons, creating problems every time although efforts are underway to build new diversions.

With regard to Raj Duwali road section, wall building is underway at the stream area and the road has been collapsing. This situation indicates that there is no chance for the road to open immediately.

"Road can be made here only after the wall is complete and the caved in part of the road is filled," he said.

At this time, people have to cross the landslides are on foot, risking life and in case of patients, they are carried on stretchers across the landslide area.

On the other hand, loaded trucks heading for Taplejung through the alternative route are stranded in the middle of the route after the diversions were swept away.

Krishna Paudyal, chair of Ilam chamber of commerce and industries, said that road obstruction has led to shortage of daily essentials including fuels and cooking gas and the price of such things has also gone up.