Bajura, June 7

An increasing number of people from remote villages of Bajura have been migrating to the areas along the Karnali Corridor.

Over 150 families have migrated to Pilichaur of Jagannath Rural Municipality along the Karnali Corridor with the hope of leading a better life.

While some of the families have settled down by building homes and others have started their business, said Jagannath Rural Municipality chair Kali Bahadur Shahi.

Pilichaur along Karnali Corridor is witnessing an influx of people from remote parts of Bajura. Photo: THT

“Most of those migrating are from Budhinanda Municipality and Himali and Swamikartik Rural Municipalities. Even people from remote areas of Jagannath Rural Municipality have moved to areas along the corridor, which is under construction,” Shahi said.

Manabir Budathapa, who has migrated to Kawadi from Rugin in Himali, said he wanted to live a better life with easy access to road network. “Back in our village, we had to walk for two to three days to buy food items and for fetching drinking water. The life was very difficult,” he shared.

The Nepali Army is building a 145-metre corridor along the banks of the Karnali river that connects Kalikot’s Lalu with Humla’s Sarisalla. While 40 km of the corridor lies in Kalikot, 44 km lies in Bajura, with the remaining stretch lying in Humla district.

NA had started construction of the corridor about five years ago. Now, work is underway along 107 km stretch, out of which transport service has been operated on 72 km of the corridor in Bajura’s Dhulachaur.