Kabiraj Ghimire,Hile, June 5: As the monsoon began this year, a flood in the Leuti stream swept away approximately 100 metres of the Koshi Highway at Fedi, Sangurigadhi Rural Municipality-6 in Dhankuta. According to preliminary estimates from the Dhankuta Road Division Office, the damage at this single point is valued at around Rs. 45 million.
This is not the first such incident. In 2020, the same stream had destroyed about 70 metres of road at the exact same location. That section was reconstructed at a cost of Rs. 20.4 million using modern technology, including masonry and gabion walls. But despite being completed only four years ago, it failed again at the very start of this year’s monsoon.
Since 2003, floods have damaged this spot four different times. Just 500 metres ahead lies Garjuwa, another stretch prone to annual damage and blockages. Other recurrent danger zones include Falametar and Labarbote. Due to repeated collapses in these areas, travel during the monsoon becomes dangerous and unpredictable, local resident Santosh Rai shared.
“The stretch from Simsuwa Golai to Mulghat becomes risky with even moderate rainfall,” said Rai.Falametar has recently turned more vulnerable, while Labarbote remains a long-standing problem area. The Road Division notes that a 6.5-kilometre section from Ward 6 to Ward 2 of Sangurigadhi lies in critical condition due to the proximity of the Leuti river. Despite spending millions each year on repairs, a sustainable solution has yet to emerge.
Leuti river and construction waste adding to threat
The Road Division says the stream itself poses the greatest challenge. For nearly 7 km between Simsuwa Golai and Mulghat, the Koshi Highway runs parallel to the Leuti stream. Landslides on the opposite bank continue to push the watercourse toward the road. One such landslide, active for over two decades, remains uncontrolled.
Experts believe that controlling the landslide and guiding the stream back to its original course could prevent annual destruction. Yet, despite heavy financial investment in road maintenance, little has been done to address the root of the issue.
Residents say similar problems exist at Garjuwa, where floods bring down sediment and clay, worsening road conditions. Furthermore, unregulated extraction of riverbed materials in the Leuti stream has destabilised the area, says Engineer Santosh Sah. These extractions divert floodwaters directly toward the highway during monsoon.
Adding to the hazard is the careless dumping of soil into the Leuti stream from construction of new roads, particularly the under-construction Bhedetar–Rabi link. This soil runoff has become a major concern, according to Engineer Rai, who emphasises that better coordination and environmental planning could significantly reduce risks.
Experts insist that managing the stream and surrounding terrain is more important than repeatedly rebuilding the same damaged road.Contractor Yagya Rai argues that while complete elimination of risk may not be possible, proper stream management could reduce 80 per cent of the problem.
Impact reaches beyond Dhankuta
Although the worst damage appears in Dhankuta, the ripple effects stretch far across eastern Nepal. The Koshi Highway serves as a lifeline for transport to and from Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, Khotang, and Dhankuta. Additionally, the Tamor Corridor, which connects Taplejung and Panchthar, branches off from the highway at Labarbote.
Whenever the road collapses, transport to these seven hill districts is affected. Local resident Shriram Rayamajhi stresses the urgency of long-term planning and durable solutions that go beyond short-term road repairs.
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