KALIKOT: The Karnali Highway has reopened after being blocked for several hours due to a landslide triggered by light rainfall near Jite.

The landslide had obstructed the Jite–Manma section of the highway, cutting off road access to and from Kalikot district headquarters Manma, as well as Jumla and Mugu districts en route to Surkhet. Travelers were left stranded throughout the morning.

According to Milan Khadka of Khadachakra-1, landslides have been occurring frequently with the onset of rain. Besides Jite, areas like Hulma also saw landslides.

Locals say poorly planned road widening projects and auxiliary road constructions by local governments have made the soil unstable, increasing landslide risks.

The highway was blocked for several hours after rockslides occurred along the cliffs at Jite. Stranded passengers expressed frustration over the lack of roadside amenities such as shops or hotels near the landslide area.

Once the debris was cleared, vehicles began moving toward their destinations. DSP Tek Bahadur Rawat, chief of the Kalikot District Police Office, confirmed that although the road was cleared quickly, narrow road sections delayed two-way traffic flow.

Rawat added that the highway frequently opens and closes during the monsoon, and though excavators are kept on standby, it often takes time to fully clear landslide debris.