Beni–Jomsom–Korala road blocked for a week; drones carry diesel for repairs, apple farmers in distress

Diesel is being delivered by drone for the repair and reconstruction of the Beni–Jomsom–Korala road, which has been blocked for the past week due to flooding in the Kali Gandaki river. It has been reported that 400 litres of diesel have been transported by drone and that the road reconstruction work has been accelerated.

The road connects to Korala, currently the only operational trade border point with China.

Heavy rain, floods, landslides and river erosion have blocked the road, and apple farmers in Mustang are also in crisis. Farmers say they cannot transport apples to markets while the road is closed, and that apples are beginning to rot on the trees.

If the road is not restored quickly, farmers could suffer further losses.