Beyond Temporary Road Repairs

The wounds caused by the Bhotekoshi flood on August 26 had yet to heal when several days of continuous rainfall once again disrupted normal life across the country. More than three dozen roads, including major highways, have been blocked. The Prithvi Highway, the main route into Kathmandu, has once again been disrupted, while landslides along various sections of the BP, Araniko, Madan Bhandari, Mid-Hill, Siddhartha and Karnali highways have hampered transportation. With major roads connecting Kathmandu to the rest of the country closed, passengers have been stranded and supplies of food and other essentials disrupted. This has pushed up the cost of living in Kathmandu and elsewhere. People already reeling from the Bhotekoshi disaster have been further burdened by rising prices of essential goods as road disruptions affect supplies. With the major festivals approaching, the situation is particularly concerning. Life is already difficult for those directly affected by floods, landslides and other disasters, while rising prices are placing an additional burden on those who escaped direct losses. This is not merely a temporary problem caused by this year's rainfall. The recurring disruption of roads during every monsoon exposes weaknesses in Nepal's transport infrastructure and disaster preparedness. Natural disasters may not be preventable, but the extent to which they disrupt transportation, supplies and people's daily lives depends largely on the state's preparedness. The challenge is even greater now as Nepal's major festivals approach.