Mountain roads in the Himalayas are notoriously treacherous, claiming numerous deaths every year. Road casualties are often due to inadequate road construction, which can cause landslides, rock fall and avalanches. In fact, research from around the Himalayas has shown that around 30 to 40 per cent of all landslides may be due to road construction, compounded by more extreme rainfall events.

In areas affected by seasonal monsoon rains, roads may be closed for days, sometimes weeks, causing difficulties for school children who may be forced to cross dangerous landslide-prone areas or take long detours to reach school. In Nepal, the policy is to co