KATHMANDU: With landslides continuing to block traffic along the Narayangadh–Muglin road section, police have launched a free bus service to assist stranded passengers.
According to SP Govinda Puri, Chief of the Chitwan District Police Office, the service began on Tuesday to support travelers stuck for the past two days due to a massive landslide at Tuin Khola. Two buses from the Nepal Police School in Shantipur have been mobilized to provide transport at no cost.
The service is mainly targeted at passengers who, after walking through alternative routes from the Tanahun side, reach the Panch Kilo bridge. “For those traveling on foot because of the landslide, we are now offering free buses up to Bharatpur,” SP Puri said.
Initially, passengers were picked up directly from the landslide site, but from Wednesday, the service has been operating from Panch Kilo. Once enough passengers gather, police are alerted and a bus is dispatched.
Authorities said that with no immediate prospects of clearing the landslide, the free bus service was introduced to ease the difficulties of travelers forced to walk long distances. Although clearing work is ongoing, fresh slides have repeatedly blocked progress. Officials estimate the road could remain closed until Friday.
The Narayangadh–Muglin road is a crucial highway linking Kathmandu with western and southern Nepal, and prolonged disruption has left hundreds of festival-bound travelers stranded.
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