Rain-triggered landslides, floods block major highways across the country

KATHMANDU: Heavy, persistent rain has triggered landslides and floods that have blocked major highways and road sections across several districts, disrupting vehicular movement nationwide.

Nepal Police, releasing details on Wednesday, said some stretches are completely impassable and night-time traffic has been suspended on several routes. "Some road sections have been completely blocked and operation of vehicular movement has been prohibited in some road sections during night," Nepal Police said.

Authorities have ordered a daily closure of the Khurkot–Nepalthok–Katunje Road from 6:00 pm to 4:00 pm because of flood risk, and Kanti Highway is closed to traffic each night from 5:00 pm to 5:00 am. Mechi Highway is fully blocked at Ilam Municipality-9 after the road became muddy following rainfall.

Meanwhile, landslides have halted traffic on Araniko Highway at Zerokilo and Kodari in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality, and the swollen Samakoshi River has encroached on the Lamasanghu–Ramechhap section in Tamakoshi Rural Municipality-5, Dolakha. Pasang Lhamu Road in Uttargaya Rural Municipality-5, Rasuwa, is also blocked after flooding from the Trishuli River.

A dry landslide at Bagmati Rural Municipality-3 along Kanti Highway has completely disrupted traffic, and a similar dry landslide in Paribartan Rural Municipality-1, Rolpa, has stopped movement on the Ghorahi–Thawang Martyr Highway. The Besisahar–Chame–Manang Road at Marsyangdi Rural Municipality-4 in Lamjung is likewise blocked by a landslide.

Nepal Police urged travellers to check with the relevant authorities about road conditions and to take necessary precautions before setting out.

(With inputs from RSS)