Floods, landslides obstruct traffic on 18 highway sections across the country

KATHMANDU: Vehicular movement along 18 road sections across various highways in the country has been obstructed due to floods and landslides, Nepal Police Headquarters has confirmed.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Binod Ghimire, spokesperson for Nepal Police, stated that Siddicharan Highway at Manebhanjyang Rural Municipality is fully obstructed in Okhaldhunga district, while the Daldale section of the same highway is also blocked at Katari Municipality-14 in Udayapur district.

In Sankhuwasabha district, the Koshi Highway is blocked by landslides in Bhotkhola Rural Municipality-4 and Makalu Rural Municipality-3. Similarly, the Mid-Hill Highway is blocked at Dhikure in Pakhribas Municipality-5, Dhankuta district, and the Koshi Highway is obstructed at Sagurigadhi Rural Municipality in Dhankuta. The Mechi Highway is also blocked due to landslides at several locations in Ilam Municipality-9, Ilam district.

Police further reported that traffic is halted along Nepal–China Friendship Bridge in Gosaikunda Rural Municipality-2, Rasuwa district, and at four other sites, including Syaphrubesi in the same rural municipality.

Likewise, Araniko Highway is obstructed at Charkilo in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-4, Sindhupalchok district, and the BP Highway at Mamtikhola in Roshi Rural Municipality-11, Kavre district.

DIG Ghimire added that several road sections in Makawanpur district, including the Kanti Highway and the Kulekhani–Dakshinkali road section, are blocked due to rain-induced disasters.

Police also stated that the Mid-Hill Highway at Phikkal Rural Municipality-6 and the BP Highway at Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-1 in Sindhuli district are obstructed following landslides at multiple sites.