The road network in the hilly districts of Mechi, including Ilam, has been disrupted as floods and landslides have closed alternative routes, including the Mechi Highway.
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The Mechi Highway, along with alternative routes, has been blocked by floods and landslides caused by continuous rains. The road network in Mechi and the hilly districts of Ilam has been disrupted for the past week after the Rajduwali road section in Maikhola, which connects the Terai region to the hilly districts of Ilam and Panchthar and reaches the mountainous district of Taplejung, has been blocked for almost a week. Despite repeated attempts to repair the road and allow only two-wheeled vehicles to ply since Sunday, even motorcycles are not being able to ply due to the problem of road subsidence. The Simalgolai-Tilkeni road, which is used as an alternative route to the Maikhola Rajduwali section, has also been blocked due to floods. The diversion of the Jogmai River under this road is not reliable.
Another road connecting Ilam-Jhapa, the Kechana-Kanchenjunga Fast Track, has also been damaged by floods in the Puwa Khola diversion.
Drivers and passengers say that this road is also not safe for travel as muddy water is flowing over the diversion and the foundation of the road is being damaged.
According to Pawan Bhattarai, Chief of Road Division Ilam, although preparations are being made to connect the Puwa Khola and Jogmai Khola on the alternative road, they have not arrived from India. This poses a challenge to the operation of vehicles and transport vehicles from Jhapa to Ilam via Panchthar and Taplejung.
A large number of vehicles, which left Jhapa a few days ago carrying food and consumer goods for Ilam via Panchthar and Taplejung, have been stopped across the Mai Khola.
The Ilam Chamber of Commerce and Industry has appealed to the federal and provincial governments and related bodies for a solution, saying that if this problem persists for a few days, more problems may arise.
President Krishna Poudel said that even the materials inside the trucks have reached a state of rotting due to water leakage.
Businessmen say that the stock of fuel and food grains is running out in the Maikhola Warika market in Ilam due to the lack of regular means of transportation and transportation.
Tamor Corridor and auxiliary roads are also at risk
The Tamor Corridor, which connects the Terai through the mountains to the Himalayan district of Taplejung, has also been affected by floods and landslides. Along with the Nawakhola on the border of Dhankuta and Panchthar, most of the rivers in the Dhankuta area, including the Hewa Khola on the border of Phidim and Hilihang, which fall on this road, do not have bridges.
Due to the floods that occur after rain, it is not possible to cross these rivers and canals. Vehicles and transport vehicles have not been moving regularly on this road due to the increased risk of flooding since this morning. Transport entrepreneur Deviraj Kurumwang says that vehicles leaving for Dharan and Biratnagar from Phidim have not been able to cross the Nawa River due to the lack of conditions.
Floods and landslides have also damaged internal roads in Panchthar district. Panchthar Deputy Superintendent of Police Anish Kumar Karna said that people have been asked not to travel at risk due to the rain in the Jorpokhari, Ektin Memeng, Phidim Phalot and Ranke Rabi areas.
