Kalikot, Sept. 1 -- The Karnali Highway in Kalikot remains blocked for a third day after a landslide at Gaganekhola in ward 1 of Shubha Kalika Rural Municipality along the Surkhet-Jumla road, leaving travellers stranded.

Two excavators were deployed Sunday morning to clear the debris, but authorities could not remove the large boulders. Rajiv Shrestha, chief of the Jumla Road Division Office, said controlled blasting may be required to reopen the road.

Chief District Officer Gokarn Raj Suyal said the district security committee has sought blasting approval from the Ministry of Defence. "The situation requires blasting the large rocks. The Nepali Army will carry out the controlled explosion today," he said.

The blockage has disrupted tr...