KHOTANG, Aug 1: Incessant rainfall since the past few weeks have led to obstructions of majority of roads in Khotang district. Obstructions along the 72 km Diktel-Jayaram road stretch of the Mid-hill Highway have badly affected commuters.
Locals and passengers are forced to make perilous journey due to road obstructions. The 42 km Diktel-Halesi road section that connects Khotang with the other highways remains obstructed since the past two weeks. This has stranded many passengers.
Most parts of the road are waterlogged, muddy and full of potholes. “Many vehicles have been stuck in the muddy road forcing transportation along the section to a complete halt,” said Tej Basnet, assistant police inspector at the Khotang District Traffic Police.
Diketel-Halesi road is the major road that links to district headquarters. With transportation coming to a grinding halt, travelers are forced to trek for over seven hours to reach district headquarters. Locals who have been referred to district hospital for treatment have been especially affected.
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Trade in the district has come to a grinding halt as most of the goods remain stranded along the highway. According to entrepreneurs, road obstructions have made it very difficult for them to transport goods of daily necessities. At present, only 30 km road of Jayaram-Halesi is operational.
“The Diktel-Mude and Mude-Halesi road stretches have been obstructed since the start of the monsoon season,” said Raj Kumar Rai, general secretary of Transportation Entrepreneurs Association, Khotang.
