Road tracks in Kalikot becoming death traps

By Prem Raj Simkhada,Kalikot, Nov. 13: Recently, there has been a rise in road accidents on the newly opened tracks built to expand road networks.  

Each local government's first development plan has been road expansion, and they are opening tracks in the villages. However, these tracks have turned into death traps as accidents have become too frequent. 

Although the district administration office is required to give route permits only after a technical study to determine whether the new tracks have met basic standards, the local levels tend to give permits on their own without considering the technical aspect, which often results in fatal accidents. 

Laxman Bahadur Bam, former Chairperson of Palata Rural Municipality, said that such problems not only existed in Kalikot but also in the mountainous and hilly districts of all provinces except Madhes Province. Palata Rural Municipality of Kalikot is not connected to the national road.

Accidents are more likely on these roads as roads do not even meet the minimum standards and vehicles carry passengers exceeding their capacity. Bolero jeeps are operational on these road tracks.

However, Bam said that no one speaks against operating vehicles on such dangerous roads, which ultimately leads to human loss.

The roads of Palata Rural Municipality of Kalikot including Shubhkalika Rural Municipality, Narharinath Rural Municipality, Sanni Triveni Rural Municipality, Tilagufa Municipality, Khandachakra Municipality and Raskot Municipality are in a dilapidated stage.

The risk of accidents is high as road tracks opened by the previous government were not further repaired.

Kambar Bahadur Bam, a technician at Khandachakra Municipality, said that the risk of accidents was high as the rural roads were operating without meeting the technical standards.

The risk of accidents is elevated because vehicles are operated on narrow roads. The local representative suggested that facilities should be provided to assist people driving on such narrow roads. 

Last year, a Bolero Jeep carrying 12 players met with an accident at Shubhkalika Rural Municipality-4. 

Six people died in a road accident in Palanta on Sunday. Although many accidents happen on these roads every year, responsible agencies are unaware and indifferent. 

The District Administration Office has standards regarding these roads, but these standards don't seem to be applied. 

Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, Chief District Officer of Kalikot, said that though they have the right to monitor the road, they do not have the right to issue route permits.

He mentioned that the rural municipality has often taken the initiative to open the road and the monitoring aspect should be strengthened.