The Department of Road (DoR) had used two dozers throughout the day to build a diversion on the highway along the river, but continual deluge of silt and boulders in the river thwarted the effort. [break]
Pushpanjali Khanal, chief at the District Road Divisional Office in Dhankuta, said that it is yet uncertain when the strategic highway that links Dhankuta with Dharan-the two major commercial hubs in the eastern region - could be resumed.
Vehicular movement remains stalled along the highway since Friday, stranding hundreds of commuters and scores of vehicles ferrying goods, including perishable items such as vegetables from a number of hilly districts in Koshi zone that are connected to the Tarai by the strategic highway.
Perishable items, especially vegetables, worth millions of rupees, which were bound for the Tarai, have already rotten, and the suppliers have been compelled to dump them in the Leuti.
Bhawani Shankar Chamling, a resident of Labarbote village, said that flood in the Leuti has continued due to a heavy rainfall at the source of the river. He claimed that the flood would not recede until upstream areas such as Bhedetar, Dandabazar and Sanguri areas of Dhankuta do not witness a dry spell.
Meanwhile, commuters are forced to embark upon a risky journey through the precarious hilly trails on foot.
Meanwhile, the Dhankuta chapter of Nepal Chambers of Commerce provided relief packages to the landslide victims at Bhedetar, Mahabharar and Budhimorang VDCs.
Each of the 17 affected families have been provide with 10 kg of rice , 4 kg of pulse, salt , sugar and oil, according to NCC office secretary , Jayandra Pradhan.
Similarly, Indira Thapa, a Nepali Congress leader, also provided 10 kg rice to each affected families.
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