Rainfall disrupts major highways in various parts of country

Kathmandu: Incessant rainfall over the past four days has triggered landslides, floods and road cave-ins in various parts of the country, disrupting traffic along major highways and other roads.

According to Nepal Police, roads in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Kavrepalanchok, Chitwan, Manang, Baglung, Rolpa, Kalikot, Gulmi, Myagdi, Mustang, Humla, East Nawalparasi, Palpa, Lalitpur, Lamjung, Tanahun and Parbat have been affected by the heavy rainfall.

The Pasang Lhamu Highway in Rasuwa has been completely disrupted after floods in the Trishuli River significantly eroded the riverbanks.

However, travel between Kathmandu and Syafrubesi in Rasuwa remains possible via a one-lane gravel route from Tokha-Chhahare-Bidur in Nuwakot, Darbar-Phalante-Chokade-Lachyang-Sarmathali-Parchyang-Bhorle-Zero KM Kalikasthan-Syaubari-Ramchhe-Sole-Dhunchhe.

Police said public and private vehicles, except those used for emergency purposes, have been barred from travelling along the Tokha-Chhahare road section in Nuwakot from 10 pm to 5 am. The restriction will remain in effect until further notice.

Traffic along the Prithvi Highway has also been affected by landslides at various locations. In the Krishnabhir area, one-way traffic has resumed after a landslide brought down a large rock.

Meanwhile, a landslide at Panidhara in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-10 has completely disrupted traffic.

Traffic along the Narayangadh-Muglin road section in Chitwan has been suspended until further notice due to landslides at various locations.

The BP Highway has been obstructed by landslides at Charsayabesi in Roshi Rural Municipality-7 and Gimbibesi in Roshi Rural Municipality-8 of Kavrepalanchok.

Similarly, the Araniko Highway has been blocked following a landslide at Pakucha in Dhulikhel Municipality-8.

In Gandaki Province, vehicular movement along the Besisahar-Khangsar road section in Manang has been banned from 6 pm to 6 am. The Chame-Besisahar road section has been completely blocked due to landslides.

The Baglung section of the Mid-Hill Highway, the Kaligandaki Corridor, the Ghoreahi-Thawang-Rukum Shaheed Road in Rolpa, and the Karnali Highway in Kalikot have also been blocked by landslides and debris.

In Gulmi, the Ridi-Tamghas section of the Madan Bhandari Highway, the Rudrabeni-Bamitaksar road and various sections of the Kaligandaki Corridor have been blocked due to landslides and flooding in rivers.

Transport services have also been disrupted along the Beni-Jomsom road 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 due to landslides and debris deposited on the roads.

Police said traffic has also been disrupted by landslides along the Besisahar-Manang road in Lamjung, the Mid-Hill Highway, the Prithvi Highway in Tanahun, and the Maldhunga-Beni road section in Parbat.

Authorities have decided to restrict vehicular movement along several high-risk roads and completely close some road sections.

Police have urged people to avoid unnecessary travel on risky roads and to travel only after obtaining information from the local administration and security agencies.