Kalika Sadak
HUMLA, October 1.
Unceasing rainfall followed by landslides, floods, and falling boulders has completely halted vehicular movement across major and rural road networks in Humla district. Transport infrastructure connecting the district—including the Simkot–Hilsa road link to the Chinese border, the Karnali Corridor, and internal roads across all seven rural municipalities—has been severely damaged.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shankar Khadka, Chief of the District Police Office, landslides have brought down boulders across multiple sections, while flash floods have swept away key structures, including culverts. He added that collecting full details of the total destruction has been difficult due to power outages in the district headquarters.
DSP Khadka further reported that the Karnali Corridor has been entirely blocked between Kawadi and Hilsa due to heavy landslides and massive fallen rocks. However, the Kawadi–Giusi road segment has been cleared and reopened for traffic, while continuous efforts are underway to reopen the upper stretch.
The torrential rains have damaged rural connectivity linking ward centers and settlements across all seven local units. Road sections heading toward the Tajakot Rural Municipality center suffered severe damage, while blocked roads between Adanchuli Rural Municipality center and Wards 5 and 6 have made commuting to school difficult for students, according to Ward Member Singh Bohora.
Chief District Officer Bhola Nath Guragai stated that landslides have occurred in over 70 locations along rural road networks. Coordination is actively ongoing with all rural municipalities to clear the obstructions and restore traffic flow.
Assistant Chief District Officer Chandra Veer Shahi shared that a command post meeting has been convening regularly at the District Administration Office since Sunday to coordinate road clearance operations with concerned agencies.
The road blockages also disrupted local political events; the Nepali Congress provincial convention originally scheduled for Asoj 10 was delayed by three days and completed on Asoj 13. Representatives traveling from lower region areas to Simkot took up to two days to arrive due to blocked roads and were forced to walk long distances on foot.
Furthermore, heavy snowfall measuring around 3.5 feet at Nara Lake in Namkha Rural Municipality-5 and Nyalu Lake on the route to Limi in Ward 6 has closed high-altitude road passes. Police stated that resuming traffic on these routes will remain difficult until the snow is cleared.
The simultaneous disruption of major highways and rural feeder roads has severely impacted supply chains, halting the transport of food, daily essential commodities, emergency patient evacuations, and basic public services across Humla.
— National News Agency (RSS)
