Bhasbhase mudslides disrupt Baglung-Beni road

Severe mudslides and river erosion at Bhasbhase in Beni Municipality-2 have significantly disrupted the Baglung-Beni road. The damage, caused by heavy rainfall between September 24 and 27, has impacted a critical route linking Myagdi and Mustang to the national highway.

At the confluence of the Myagdi and Kali Gandaki rivers, the road has sunk by two to three meters over a 100-meter stretch. Additionally, the Kali Gandaki River has washed away the access road to the Maldhunga bridge, which connects Parbat and Baglung. This has forced traffic traveling between Pokhara and Kathmandu, as well as vehicles from Rukum and Jajarkot, to rely on the alternative Baglung-Beni-Maldhunga route.

Local residents report that the narrow, muddy conditions frequently cause vehicles to become stuck, leading to hours-long traffic jams and increased accident risks. Despite previous efforts by the Baglung Road Division Office to implement groundwater management and slope stabilization, including laying concrete, the infrastructure has continued to sink. Dilkumari Khatri, Acting Head of the Myagdi District Coordination Committee, noted that the challenging geography makes finding a lasting solution difficult, as even newly laid gravel often compacts and sinks shortly after application.