Landslide Blocks Benighat-Arughat-Larke Road
The Benighat-Arughat-Larke road has been blocked since Tuesday morning after a landslide involving rocks fell near the cliff at Dovhan, Ward 3 of Dharche Rural Municipality. The Nepal Army has dispatched technical personnel from the road construction team for an on-site study, and the condition of the road will be confirmed after their report. With the road blocked, vehicle movement and goods transportation have been disrupted, and the municipality has urged people to use foot trails as an alternative. March 7, Gorkha.
The landslide, accompanied by large rocks, obstructed the Benighat-Arughat-Larke road. Early Tuesday morning, a significant landslide with rocks fell from above the cliff near Dovhan, Ward 3 of Dharche Rural Municipality, resulting in a road closure since then. Municipality Chairperson Laxman Gurung stated, “Yesterday, some stones fell from above, briefly halting the road, but we removed them with a bulldozer. However, this morning, a large rockfall with a landslide severely damaged the road base.”
The Nepal Army has sent technical experts from the road construction team to conduct an on-site assessment. Rudradhwaj Battalion’s Commander Birudhwoj Rijal said, “We have dispatched the technical team, and once they submit their report, the status of the road will be determined.” Vehicle movement in the area has come to a complete halt due to the landslide. Locals have also reported difficulties in transporting goods.
The road under construction is heavily frequented by tourists heading toward the Manaslu region. Construction on this road has been ongoing for the past seven years. Of the total 154 kilometers from Benighat to the China border at Larke Bhanjyang, a road track has been established and is operational for 97 kilometers. Additionally, vehicles have started running from Hawadanda to Pangsang in Chumanuwari Rural Municipality.
Work on the road began in 1995 (Bikram Sambat 2052), and in fiscal year 2006-07 (Bikram Sambat 2063-64), it was named the Benighat-Arughat-Larke Bhanjyang Road, with the Road Department assigned responsibility for its construction. However, the approximately one-kilometer stretch from Hawadanda includes a steep cliff with hard rocks, which delayed track opening work for nearly five years.