Adventurous visit to Gati
The visit was not as easy as the previous times I have been there, and I think its not the right time to be travelling to that region because of the high risk involved.
The visit was not as easy as the previous times I have been there, and I think its not the right time to be travelling to that region because of the high risk involved.
Its hard to illustrate how heavy was the flow of the river that swept away Araniko highway at many places. The destruction starts from Barhabise heading all the way to China/Tibet border.
The situation of the road:
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| Alternate temporary road at Barahbise |
At the moment travelers are using three alternative ways to pass the road:
1. Walk all the way through the village,
2. Walk down to the road and use two jeeps to pass it, changing vehicles in between the most damaged areas in the road, this is, however, an expensive solution.
3. People walk all the way through the road using alternatives trails at damaged sections .
Road division and Bhotekoshi Hyodropower Company have taken responsibility to build temporary roads at damaged sites as a short term solution to the problem. There are excavators and roller machines from Bhotekosi Hydropower which are fully engaged in the field to clear and build a temporary passage. Basically filling rocks and mud at damaged places but I am not sure to what extent this measure will resist the rest of the monsoon season.
There is possibility of resuming the road up until to Chaku within a few weeks since the HydroPower Company has already been mobilizing the team at Jambu. The locals have informed me that the team is expected to build the temporary road from there to Chaku.
If this turns out to be the case then we can start school building construction in Gati and Dandakateri.
Communication and electricity:
The continuous downpour and massive flood in Bhotekoshi river have also caused disturbances in the electricity facilities and communication systems in the village, since most of the electricity poles have fallen down at the riverside and the mobile tower in the area has shortage of fuel and power to transmit a signal for a functional communication system.
Human settlement:
Human settlements in the roadside are at high risk of inundation due to the increasing flood in the Bhoteskoshi River area, as such most of the settlers have moved to a safer zone. On the other hand people in the village haven't changed their normal routine and are busy with farming activities as usual, most of them have just completed the seasonal paddy plantation.
Although, there is a possibility that some natural calamities may occur particularly due to heavy rainfall and landslide in the region, these are a typical part of monsoon season.
School building construction :
School management committee and Constructions committee are hoping to begin school construction work in Gati and Dandakateri soon. However, the damaged road presents a significant problem because a huge amount of building materials need to be transported from suppliers/market to the site, therefore fixing this issue is imperative for the building process itself.
While returning back from Gati I used the trail through the village and visited Singarche on the way to observe the building construction site prepared by the school management committee. They have already leveled the building construction site but need technical advice for proper measurement of land size. Taking this into account, I have collected some general information from them and I am going to consult with an engineer for further advice.
Last but not the least I hope no more natural disasters occur in Nepal and I would continue to push for this type of development activities.
Thanking you all for kind cooperation.
Nima Tshering Lama
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| Jambu |
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| Jambu |
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| Road block at Khorong |
