KHANDBARI: The Khandbari–Kimathanka road section has been completely blocked due to a dry landslide along the Koshi Highway at Sirek in Bhotkhola Rural Municipality-4 of Sankhuwasabha.

Transportation services came to a complete halt on Friday afternoon after a massive volume of rocks, soil, and debris cascaded down from the steep slope above the road. According to the District Police Office, around 15 meters of the road has been buried by the landslide.

Following the landslide, passengers and vehicles traveling along the route have been left stranded. Chief of the District Police Office, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kumar Prasad Mainali, stated that although a police team was deployed to the site as soon as information about the landslide was received, the road could not be cleared immediately as debris continued to fall.

He informed that efforts are underway to clear the road in coordination with the local level and relevant authorities.

The Khandbari–Kimathanka road section serves as the primary road network connecting the northern region of the district with the district headquarters.

Due to the road blockage, local residents of the Bhotkhola area, commuters, and freight vehicles carrying essential supplies have been severely affected. Ram Bahadur Gurung, chief of the North-South Koshi Road Project, noted that incidents of dry landslides along the steep slopes near the highway have been on the rise recently.

He urged everyone to exercise special caution while traveling, as the risk of falling rocks and unstable cliff formations remains high. Preparations are underway to clear the landslide debris by deploying necessary heavy equipment in coordination with the project office, local government, and security agencies.