Simkot-Hilsa road opens after removing snow


Vehicular movement along the Simkot-Hilsa road section of the Karnali Corridor has resumed after three months.

Traffic resumed after the snow accumulated on the road was cleared by the new dozer Namkha Rural Municipality got as gift from the People’s Republic of China. Snowfall from October 5 to 10 last year had obstructed the road at Nara Lek.

“Around three-feet thick snow has accumulated along the three-kilometre section of the road which was removed by a bulldozer in two days,” said Prem Lama, chairman of Namkha.

Lama added, “We not only cleared the snow but also reconstructed and repaired the damages along the section.”

As soon as the obstruction was removed, four bolero jeeps and tippers crossed the section carrying goods. The goods had arrived from China when the northern neighbour opened the border one-way on December 28, 2022.

The dozer was also gifted by the Chinese authorities to Namkha Rural Municipality, Lama said.

“As soon as we received the dozer from the Chinese government, we used it to clear the snow from the road. Now, we can remove obstructions along the road anytime,” said Lama.

The section also falls under the jurisdiction of Hilsa-Simkot Road Project. However, the project had not removed the obstruction.

Officials of Namkha informed that it was the first time that the section, which is obstructed by snow annually, was opened in January. Until last year, locals used to wait until May to clear the road.

Meanwhile, obstruction created by snow along the road to Limi via Nyalu Lek region is yet to be removed.

Source : TRN,