Major Highways Obstructed: Downpour Continues

Landslides triggered by incessant rain since Thursday morning have disrupted several major roadways across Nepal.

According to the Nepal Police, Sankhuwasabha section along the Koshi Highway, the Tamor Corridor in Panchthar, the Siddhicharan Highway in Okhaldhunga, the BP Highway at Namobuddha in Kavrepalanchok, the Pasang Lhamu Highway in Rasuwa, and the Mid-Hill Highway in Sindhuli have been blocked by landslides.

Likewise, vehicular movement along the Miteri Bridge on the Nepal-China border in Rasuwa has come to a halt. Landslides have also partially blocked the Jomsom-Korala section and the Beni-Darbang section in Myagdi, as well as the Sandhikharka-Gorusinge section in Arghakhanchi, allowing only one-way traffic, it has been said.

Torrential rain since Thursday has obstructed the Ilam-Rajduwali road section along the Mechi Highway.

Chief District Officer Sunita Nepal said vehicular movement has been prohibited on the section due to road breakdown at various locations. Vehicles are completely banned on the road until further notice, she said.

The Tilkeni-Simalgola-Shilpur road, an alternative route to the Mechi Highway, is also blocked due to rain and landslides.

The Mechi Corridor (Kechana-Kanchenjunga road) has been closed since early October last year after its concrete bridge at Maikhola in Belase was collapsed.

With all roads connecting Ilam headquarters to Jhapa blocked, road connectivity between Ilam and Jhapa has been severed.

Meanwhile, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the cyclone ‘Montha’ developed in the Bay of Bengal is expected to affect the weather in various areas, including Ilam in Koshi province from October 30 to November 1.

Meanwhile, the Narayangadh-Muglin road, which was obstructed due to a landslide triggered by incessant rains, has become operational for two-way traffic.

Chief of the Area Police Office Muglin, said that the traffic on the road section was halted due to the occurrence of landslide near the Tuinkhola Bridge at Icchakamana-5 at 8:40 this morning.

Two-way traffic has been opened since 10:25am after the Department of Roads removed landslide debris deposited on the road.

The police have requested drivers to be careful while driving as there is a high risk of landslides on that road section.