LAMJUNG: Although construction of Besisahar-Chame road section took place 24 years ago, locals travelling on the road that connects the headquarters of Lamjung and Manang districts still face daily hurdles as persistent floods and landslides hit the area during monsoon.

Mobility of both pedestrians and vehicles are compromised daily as they are forced to take risky trails, most of which witness landslips and flooding all the time.

"We walk in fear as there is always a risk of getting buried by the landslide when the rainfall starts," said Santosh Thapa, local of Khudi Rural Municipality of Lamjung District.

The road section is under the purview of Department of Roads and is looked after by the Road Division Office, Damauli. Locals have accused the division office of negligence in road maintenance.

Floods and landslides occur almost daily on the section, following which the road is cleared as soon as possible with the help of police personnel and bulldozers in coordination with the Damauli division office, said Assistant Chief District Officer (CDO) Anil Kumar Shahi.

Locals of northern Lamjung and Manang face serious problems due to landslides in Khahare Bhir near Belautibisauna of Besisahar Municipality-6, Arkhale Besi of Marsyangdi Rural Municipality, Ghopte Bhir, Kapre Bhir, Ram Bazaar, Syage, Sirchau and Chyamche along the Besisahar-Chame road section.

It takes about eight long hours to travel the 65-kilometre road section from Besisahar, district headquarters of Lamjung to Chame, district headquarters of Manang in a bus.