Monsoon floods, landslides disrupt major highways

KATHMANDU: Several major highways and transport routes across the country have been disrupted by monsoon-triggered floods and landslides, Nepal Police said on Thursday.

For passenger safety, the Khurkot–Nepalthok–Katunjebensi section of the BP Highway has been kept open only from 4:00 am to 6:00 pm, according to police. Likewise, the Hetauda–Bhimphedi–Bagmati–Lalitpur stretch of the Kanti Highway is closed at night.

Flooding has obstructed the Lamosanghu–Ramechhap road section in Tamakoshi Rural Municipality-4 of Dolakha district. Landslides have blocked the Araniko Highway at Charkilo, on the road to Tatopani, and at Kodari in Bhotekchok Rural Municipality-4 of Sindhupalchok district.

The Pasang Lhamu road section is blocked at Khatle in Uttargaya Rural Municipality-5, Rasuwa. In Mugu district, the Nagma–Gamgadhi road is obstructed at Talcha, and the Kaligandaki corridor is disrupted at Belbagar in Jaimini Municipality-8, Baglung. Flooding has also affected the Kaligandaki corridor at Litipiring in Palpa district.

Police urged travellers to check the latest road conditions with relevant authorities before setting out during the monsoon season and to exercise extra caution when passing through landslide-prone and other high-risk areas.

The public has been asked to use alternative routes until the suspended sections are cleared and normal traffic is restored.