Dhading, Aug 31: The condition of highways across the country is miserable due to erosion and landslides. Dhading section of the Prithivi Highway is more dangerous as the road is often blocked by landslides.
Today afternoon, Bhabana Rijal, a new mother of Nilkanth Municipality-3 in Dhading district, was brought to Kathmandu on a helicopter this afternoon after she showed health issues, paying relatively high transportation fees, as the road is risky during rainy season.
Dr Madhukar Dahal at Dhading Hospital said that the hospital suggested that Rijal should be airlifted to Kathmandu for treatment as it takes a long time than usual to reach Kathmandu due to muddy and obstructed road. The expansion of the highway has also added to the dire condition of the road.
The highway can be blocked at any time. If the patient could not get treatment on time, her life would at risk, he added.
It usually takes two hours to reach Kathmandu from Dhadingbensi, the district headquarters of Dhading. It is impossible to estimate how many hours public transport takes these days due to the pathetic road condition, said ambulance driver Bheshraj Thakuri.
On normal condition, it takes up to five hours for an ambulance to reach Kathmandu from Dhadingbensi, he said, adding that it would add more time when there is a traffic jam along the way.
Ambulances and other vehicles entering Kathmandu from other destinations, including Gorkha, Tanahun, and Chitwan, are also facing the same situation due to the bad conditioned road, risking the lives of patients, and passengers.
Meanwhile, seeing bad condition of the road, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, conducted an on-site inspection today, and directed the contractors to halt the construction work during rainy season and festivals, and clear the obstructed road at the earliest.
