Floods cut off Beni-Darwang road, put settlement at risk

MYAGDI: Flooding in the Myagdi River at Balaute in Malika Rural Municipality-6 has cut off the Beni-Darwang road and put the nearby Dukhubesi settlement at risk.

The floods triggered by heavy rainfall from September 24 to 27 damaged the Beni-Darwang road, a key transport route connecting Malika, Mangala and Dhaulagiri rural municipalities with the district headquarters, Beni Bazaar. The flooding has also increased the risk of landslides and further damage to the settlement.

Malika Rural Municipality Chairman Beg Prasad Garbuja said the river changed its course after the flood in Armankhola, causing erosion and collapsing part of the road near Dukhubesi.

“The flood in Armankhola changed the course of the Myagdi River, causing erosion and the collapse of the road, disrupting transportation along the Beni-Darwang road,” he said. “Although an alternative route to Tolawang through Dukhubesi can be opened by installing a Hume pipe across Dukhukhola, repairing the main road and protecting the settlement are the only sustainable solutions.”

The alternative road is narrow, unpaved and uneven, with insufficient space for large vehicles to pass. Vehicles become stuck at several points, while sections where Hume pipes have been installed are also vulnerable to flooding.