By Our Correspondent, Bajura, Oct. 3: Most of the rural roads which have been blocked because of landslides triggered by incessant rains from July to September are still not operational in the Bajura district.

More than a dozen rural roads in all nine local levels of Bajura have been completely closed since May 7.

Khamma Sarki, a local of Khaptad Budhiganga Municipality-10, said that the locals had to suffer for a long time to transport foods from the market to the village as the road was blocked by the landslide has not been repaired. He said that the road from Dab Bazaar to Shanti Bazaar via Jayawagyashwori Kanda has been closed since June 8 due to heavy rains.

Prem Nepali, a local trader of Shanti Bazaar, said that transportation service from one local level to another has also been disrupted. Man Bahadur Sarki, a local trader of Badhiganga-10, said that salt, oil, pulses and other food items were available at an affordable rate in winter when transportation service was in operation.

“Consumers are now forced to buy the same items at exorbitant rates as the transportation cost has increased after the transportation services came to a grinding halt,” he said.

The road has been a lifesaving facility as ill people in the village could be taken directly to Achham’s Bayalgada by jeep for treatment. Although all local levels of Bajura have access to transport services during the winter, more than a dozen rural roads have been obstructed by floods and landslides in the rainy season.

Local rural roads in Himali, Swamikartik, Jagannath and Budhinanda rural municipalities in the northeastern part of the district have also been disrupted by the floods.

Most of the rural roads from Malika Bazaar of Budhiganga, Betalmandau to Bayalchaka and Jhali have been closed because of landslides.Similarly, vehicles plying on rural roads including Paima, Chhatara, Pandhara Toli and Purvata of Triveni have been stopped at Maure in lack of a bridge over the Budhiganga.

Vehicles carrying food items are also stopped at Maure of Triveni due to the rising water levels in the river.

Likewise, vehicles plying in Kanda and Jayabagyashwori of Chhededah village of Khaptad have been stopped at Dab Bazaar after landslides occurred at Kala Aam, Salgadi and Manibhunwa under Dab-Khaptad tourist road.

However, Nar Bahadur Rawat, chairman of Chhededaha Rural Municipality, said that most of the rural roads have come into operation. He said that priority was given to the road, education and water supply projects.