Hemanta KC,
Surkhet. The road linking Humla district headquarters Simkot to Hilsa on the Nepal-China border has been obstructed due to snowfall and landslides. The Hilsa-Simkot road section has been completely closed after the road was blocked at Yalbang of Namkha Rural Municipality-4 and Thadodhunga of Simkot Rural Municipality-7.
According to the District Police Office, Humla, the road has been disrupted due to landslides in both places. According to the administration, it is a challenge to operate the road due to snowfall on more than 12 kilometers of the road in the upper mountainous region.
People coming to Simkot from different settlements of Hilsa and Namkha rural municipalities have been affected due to the closure of the road. As the Dashain festival approaches, the movement of people, local traders and tourists returning home has been affected. The transportation of daily consumables and local products transported by road has also been affected.
Chief District Officer of Humla, Bholanath Guragain, said that the work is being carried out with the aim of bringing the obstructed road into operation within a week. He said that the road could be opened within the period if there is no more snowfall immediately.
“In remote and mountainous areas, not all materials are available at once. It is difficult to work as it is difficult to mobilize resources,” he said. Meanwhile, the road section from Salisalla to Simkot has been brought into operation by clearing landslides and boulders, according to the administration. However, the road from Simkot to Hilsa has not been able to operate due to snowfall and landslides at various places.
Due to heavy snowfall in the upper mountainous region, snow has accumulated on a long distance of the road. The administration has said that it is difficult to mobilize the necessary machines and manpower to clear the snow.
The Hilsa-Simkot road is the main road connecting the northern region of Humla to the district headquarters. People of different settlements of Namkha Rural Municipality travel to and from Simkot for health treatment, purchase of daily essentials and government work.
Due to the road blockage, the citizens who have to travel for essential work have to use helicopters as an alternative. However, the locals have complained that due to the high cost of helicopter fares, there is an additional financial burden on the public.
Nepalis returning from Taklakot stayed at Hilsa
Some Nepalis returning from Taklakot of China have been stranded at Hilsa area due to snowfall. It is said that the citizens of different wards of Namkha Rural Municipality were stranded at Hilsa while returning from Taklakot.
Until the weather and road condition improves, it will be difficult for them to come from Hilsa to Simkot. If the road is delayed, the people returning home for the Dashain festival will be further affected.
Hilsa border point is an important route for Nepali and foreign tourists to Kailash Mansarovar via Taklakot of China. Tourism and business activities in Hilsa area have also been affected due to the road blockade.
Tourism entrepreneur Norbu Lama said that the tourism sector has been further affected due to the spread of misinformation that all the tourist areas of Humla have been closed due to the floods in Bhotekoshi. Stating that all the tourist areas of Humla have not been closed, he stressed the need to disseminate the correct information about the real situation of the tourist area.
Hilsa border point has become more important from the point of view of trade and movement after other border points were affected due to the floods in Bhotekoshi. In such a situation, the obstruction of the Hilsa-Simkot road has further affected trade, transportation and movement in the border area.
The administration has set a target to bring the road into operation within a week if there is no more snowfall immediately. It is expected that after the opening of the road, the movement of people returning home during Dashain will be easy and trade and tourism activities in the border areas will be regular.
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