Vehicular movement remains stalled along the highway after the Leuti River swept away a 500-meter stretch of the highway at Labarbote on Friday night. The division office informed that it would take at least three days to construct a diversion to resume the vehicular movement in the highway. [break]
Puspanjali Khanal, the chief of the division office, informed that the diversion works are slower than expected as there is continual deluge of silt and boulders in the river. Khanal informed that they were able to change the course of the river with the help of two dozers on Monday.
“There has been major progress in the construction of diversion today [Tuesday]. The work will be complete in a few days and the highway will reopen shortly,” said Khanal.
Due to the blockage, hundreds of passengers and many vehicles carrying perishables including vegetables from the eastern hills remain stranded. Meanwhile commuters have been forced to embark upon a risky journey through the precarious hill trails on foot with the help of ropes fixed by security personnel.
“Passing through the precarious hill trails with the help of ropes with loads on the back is really risky,” said Dharmendra Limbu, a local laborer.
Meanwhile, Nepal Red Cross Society, Dhankuta doled out relief packages to 21 flood victim families at Bhedetar, Mahabharat and Budhimorang VDCs. A tent, one set of kitchen utensils, clothes and blankets each have been provided to the victim families.
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