August 11: Pilgrims bound for Gosaikunda to observe the Janai Purnima festival had to take an alternative route after a section of the Pasang Lhamu Highway in Rasuwa district was damaged by landslide.
According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, the landslide occurred at Majhgaun-Banuwa Ghumti on Tuesday night disrupting vehicular movement along the highway. An alternative route from Aambhanjyang Simle to Dharapani area via Taruke is being used for the time being, RSS reported.
According to Rasuwa's chief district officer Nawaraj Jaisi, an assessment of the damaged section by technical team found that it might take some time to restore the route and therefore an off-road track towards Taruke was selected to divert the vehicles.
RSS reported that the alternative route is narrow and congested and only light vehicles like jeeps, cars and motorcycles are able to travel along the route.
Pilgrims heading towards Gosaikunda were facilitated to reach the destination via the alternative route, RSS further said.
Gosaikunda, one of the most famous religious sites in the country, draws a large number of devotees to take a holy dip in the freshwater lake on the day of Janai Purnina which is being celebrated this Friday (August 12).
The Gosainkunda Area Development Committee is expecting around 15,000 devotees to attend the religious fair on the occasion of Janai Purnima.
Trade Affected
The disruption of vehicular movement at the Banuwa section has also affected the import of goods from China. Cargo vehicles en route to Nepal from China have been halted midway.
According to RSS, the District Administration Office Rasuwa has already urged the Road Division Office to take measures for restoring the route for the convenience of trans-border trade. The landslide-hit area lacks space for division and it is estimated to take at least one month to build a gabion wall there.
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