Rain-triggered landslides disrupt traffic along major highways
KATHMANDU: Relentless rainfall over the past four days has caused severe landslides, floods and road collapses across numerous districts in Nepal, disrupting vehicular movement on major highways.
Nepal Police said the heavy downpours have affected road networks in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Kavrepalanchok, Chitwan, Manang, Baglung, Rolpa, Kalikot, Gulmi, Myagdi, Mustang, Humla, Nawalpur, Palpa, Lalitpur, Lamjung, Tanahun and Parbat. Authorities have restricted travel on hazardous routes and closed certain sections to protect public safety.
In Rasuwa, the Pasang Lhamu Highway is entirely impassable after floodwaters from the Trishuli River severely eroded its banks. Police said travel between Kathmandu and Syafrubesi remains possible via a single-lane gravel route passing through Tokha, Chhahare, Bidur, Nuwakot Durbar, Phalante, Chokade, Lachyang, Sarmathali, Parchyang, Bhorle, Zero Kilo, Kalikasthan, Syaubari, Ramche, Sole and Dhunche. Public and private vehicles, excluding emergency services, are banned from using the Tokha-Chhahare section in Nuwakot between 10:00 pm and 5:00 am until further notice.
Traffic on the Prithvi Highway has been significantly disrupted by multiple landslides. One-way traffic is operating in the Krishabhir area after a large rockfall, while a landslide at Panidhara in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-10 has halted movement. Travel on the Narayangadh-Muglin road in Chitwan is suspended indefinitely because of extensive landslide debris.
In Kavrepalanchok, the BP Highway is blocked after landslides at Charsaybesi (Roshi Rural Municipality-7) and Gimdibesi (Roshi-8). The Araniko Highway is obstructed by a landslide at Pakucha in Dhulikhel Municipality-8.
In Gandaki Province, travel from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am is banned on Besisahar-Khangsar road in Manang, while Chame-Besisahar section remains completely blocked. The Baglung Mid-Hill Highway, the Kaligandaki Corridor, Ghorahi-Thawang-Rukum Shahid Road in Rolpa and Karnali Highway in Kalikot are impassable due to accumulated debris.
In Gulmi, landslides and swollen rivers have blocked the Ridi-Tamghas road along the Madan Bhandari Highway, the Rudrbeni-Bamitaksar road and sections of the Kaligandaki Corridor.
Numerous other routes remain inoperable because of deposited debris, including Beni-Jomsom route in Myagdi, Jomsom-Korala road in Mustang, Karnali Corridor in Humla, Kaligandaki Corridor in East Nawalparasi, Siddhartha Highway in Palpa and Kanti Highway in Lalitpur. Police also confirmed blockages on Lamjung Besisahar-Manang road, the Mid-Hill Highway, the Prithvi Highway section in Tanahun and Maldhunga-Beni road in Parbat.
The police have issued an advisory urging the public to avoid unnecessary journeys on risky routes and to travel only when guided by official updates from local administration and security agencies.
(With inputs from RSS)
