GORKHA, APRIL 22

The Birendra Tal, a glacial lake at Samagaun, Chumanubri rural municipality-1 in northern Gorkha has gradually started to return to its normal state. The lake was destabilized after a huge avalanche originating in the Mt Manaslu above it hit it on Sunday morning, leading to an overflow.

"As a result of the overflow of the lake due to the avalanche, the excess water had flowed down into the Budhigandaki River. Now, the situation is normal and the lake is gradually returning to its previous condition," said Bhola Dahal, the Chief District Officer of Gorkha.

Massive avalanche in Manaslu, warnings issued for settlements near Budhigandaki River

According to him, the overflow of the lake following the crashing of the avalanche into it did not cause any significant physical and human losses as there are no settlements near the lake.

CDO Dahal informed that the falling of the avalanche in the lake from the mountain face has also stopped.

"The increased water flow in the Budhigandaki river due to the overflowing of the lake has washed away a wooden bridge on the way to Samdo from Samagaun which is about half an hour's trek from the lake," said Dahal, the Chief District Officer, adding that except this there are no other humanitarian and physical damages due to the lake overflow. The avalanche has also stopped.

Dahal said that the security personnel have dug a deep trench from the lake and drained out the water. He insisted that the security persons have been urged to remain alert for minimizing the possible risk from disasters.

A massive avalanche had fallen into the Birendra Tal situated below Mt Manaslu on Sunday. Following the incident, the District Administration Office had alerted the people living near the Budhigandaki river to remain safe and to not to go near the river as the water flow in the Budhigandaki river increased after the occurrence of the avalanche.

KAVREPALANCHOWK, APRIL 22

The expansion of Sanga-Dhulikhel road along the Araniko Highway is to continually move ahead.

An agreement has reached to continue the construction of Banepa-Budol area under the project that has been stalled for the past one and a half months.

The construction has been postponed for over 45 days with the High Court Patan's order to put off the constriction works, including culvert along the Banepa-Budol section.

Construction works will continue with a meeting of the local stakeholders and writ petitioners agreeing to immediately withdraw a case.

The agreement was reached at a meeting chaired by Deputy Chair of District Coordination Committee, Kavrepalanchowk, Rim Bahadur Tamang on Sunday.

Similarly, the meeting agreed to divert the water from the under-construction culvert to the Chandeshwari rivulet through a separate drain within the road boundary without passing it through individual land.

Chief District Officer Rudra Devi Sharma said the dispute stalling the construction has been resolved after an agreement was reached to withdraw the court case and divert water from the under-construction culvert and mix it in the river.

It may be noted that thirteen people from Budol of Banepa municipality-6 had filed a writ petition on March 3, naming Suryabinayak-Dhulikhel-Sindhuli-Bardibas Road Project Office Bhaktapur, project chief Rajendra Das and Banepa-based ward offices 6 and 7 as defendants.

The contract for the expansion of Suryabinyaak-Sanga and Sanga-Dhulikhel roads was signed on March 2023 at the cost of Rs 4 billion 56.4 million in a way to complete the works in three years. The project as per the contact covers 8.4-km from Sanga to Dhulikhel.