Road disruption triggers food shortage in Rasuwa

Rasuwa: Daily lives of people in Rasuwa district have become increasingly difficult after the Bhotekoshi flood completely disrupted the road network in the district bordering China, triggering shortages of essential goods and causing hardship for patients, traders and farmers.

A month after the August 26’s devastating flood, residents of Rasuwagadhi and surrounding areas confess that the prolonged disruption of road transport has led to shortages of daily consumable goods. Kippa Chhiring Tamang, a trader from Thulo Bharkhu in the district, shared that traders who previously transported goods easily and at relatively low cost are now struggling to bring supplies into the area.

“It is extremely difficult to transport goods in the absence of road. Even when supplies are available, transportation alone costs more than Rs 50,000 per trip,” admitted Tamang, urging the government to prioritize restoring road connectivity rather than relying solely on relief distribution.

Farmers have also hit hard by the road disruption in the wake of the catastrophic flood in Rasuwa district.

Cabbages cultivated commercially in Gatlang, a remote region in the district, to support families throughout the year have been left to rot in the fields because they are unable to transport their produces to the markets due to the road blockage, according to Phurpu Singi Tamang, a farmer.

Tamang bemoaned that relief supplies could provide temporary assistance but would not address the problem in long-term.

“A month has passed since the floods. Relief aid might suffice for a few months, but it is not a long-term solution. Investments were lost because agricultural produce could not be transported to the market,” he lamented, suggesting that priority must now be accorded to restoring the road network rather than providing relief aid.

Sundar Shrestha, a local trader, shares similar sentiments. He noted that while goods used to be easily imported according to demand at low transportation cost, the situation now has completely changed in the aftermath of the disaster.

The road disruption has also created serious challenges for healthcare. Patients requiring emergency treatment must be airlifted to Kathmandu, but the cost of chartering a helicopter is beyond the reach of many poor families, mentioned Baburam Tamang, Chairperson of the Rasuwa Civil Society.

He pointed out the need to reopen the blocked road at the earliest to bring some respite to the residents here.

Also, the Chief District Officer of Rasuwa, Kamal Prasad Pandey, informed that efforts are being made to reopen the disrupted roads and resume road connectivity.

Pandey asserted, “Work to reopen the road is underway, but it will take some time to construct the diversion and bridge. Although continuous rainfall has delayed the work to some extent, efforts are being expedited to reopen the road in coordination and cooperation with the local administration.”

The catastrophic Bhotekoshi flood claimed scores of lives and damaged massive properties across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan districts.

As per the latest update of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), a total of 5,285 people are still reported missing in the Bhotekoshi flood while the bodies of 1,451 individuals have been recovered so far. Likewise, 13,795 flood affected people have been rescued to date.

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