The Khandbari-Kimathanka road along the Koshi Highway, which had been continuously blocked, has been reopened after two months. The road had been blocked since Bhadra 15 due to large landslides in the Samtar and Alfate areas of Bhotkhola rural municipality.

The North-South Koshi Road Project has been operational since Friday after a long period of continuous efforts and road repairs.

According to Ram Bahadur Gurung, head of the Khandbari-Kimathanka Road Project under the Koshi Highway, the road was reopened with the joint efforts of locals, construction entrepreneurs and the project. According to him, the repair work was delayed due to the difficult terrain of the Bhotkhola area and continuous rains. 'After continuous efforts, we have been able to reopen the road,' Gurung said, 'One-way traffic has been operated after completing stone paving and graveling on the road.'

With the opening of the road, vehicles have been operating from a concrete bridge built on the Barun River. Due to the long-term closure of the road, residents of remote areas including Bhotkhola and Makalu had been facing great difficulties in market supply and movement.

Project chief Gurung said that once the road is opened, vehicles will be able to operate from Khandbari to Bhotkhola Hatiya and Thogang Khola. The supply of daily necessities, medicines and construction materials was disrupted due to the road blockage. Locals in remote settlements had to rely on walking and lost access to health care, education and administrative services.