Key Roads in Western Nepal Reopen as Crews Clear Landslide Debris
Traffic resumed along the Beni–Babiachour road in Myagdi after four days of landslide disruptions, while authorities accelerate repair works on severed corridors to Mustang and Manang.
Road transport between Beni and Babiachour in Myagdi district resumed on Tuesday evening, four days after continuous monsoon rains and landslides cut off western local levels from the district headquarters, according to reporting by Nepal News and Onlinekhabar. The Infrastructure Development Office restored traffic across a 16-kilometre stretch linking Beni to Panabagar via Babiachour, the administrative centre of Mangala Rural Municipality.
The opening brings immediate relief to residents across Mangala, Malika, and Dhaulagiri rural municipalities in Myagdi, as well as Tamankhola Rural Municipality in neighbouring Baglung district, Onlinekhabar reported. The 24-kilometre Gandaki provincial corridor had remained completely halted since September 26. Resham Bahadur Jugjali, a member of the Gandaki Provincial Assembly representing Myagdi 1(B), said heavy earthmovers had been deployed to clear the route and that repair crews are now pushing forward from both directions along the Panabagar–Ranabang–Dukhu–Ratodhunga–Tolabang–Bangepahiro section. Jugjali noted that provincial authorities are coordinating directly with the Gandaki chief minister and the physical infrastructure ministry to restore full connectivity.
Myagdi Chief District Officer Ganesh Gairhe stated that local, provincial, and federal agencies are executing repair tasks under decisions made by the District Disaster Management Committee. However, severe disruptions continue on the crucial Beni–Jomsom–Korala corridor, Nepal News and Onlinekhabar English reported. Swollen currents of the Kaligandaki River washed away road sections at Tilkenichaur and Khambhittha, while damaging the bridge approach road at Pokharebagar. The obstruction has severed direct overland access to Mustang, stranding passenger vehicles and halting cross-border commerce through the Korala border point with China. The closure has also hit local farmers attempting to transport Mustang apples and mountain goats to market ahead of the festive season, while disrupting pilgrims traveling to Kagbeni for Sorha Shraddha rituals during peak autumn tourism, Gairhe added. A federal technical team arrived on Tuesday to inspect damage along the Mustang route.
In neighbouring Lamjung and Manang districts, road clearance operations are making headway along the Dumre–Besishahar–Chame highway, according to Nagarik News. Landslide debris was cleared at Rambazar along the Besishahar–Chame section, allowing vehicular movement to resume. The Department of Roads said workers are currently clearing sludge and debris at Bagarchhap and removing blockages between Timang and Koto. At Khotro, crews are cutting into the hillside and raising retaining structures along a washed-out section, supported by controlled rock blasting conducted alongside the Nepal Army. Department officials confirmed that an earlier land compensation dispute with local farmers at Fapharkhet had been resolved in coordination with local governments and the district administration. Authorities aim to reopen the entire Dumre–Besishahar–Chame highway by Friday through temporary tracks where wooden bridges were destroyed.