CHITWAN: The Narayangadh–Butwal highway has been blocked in the Daunne area due to a severe cold wave, causing major disruption to traffic movement.
The road at Khursani Khola in Daunne, West Nawalparasi, has become slippery due to the cold wave, resulting in vehicles skidding and getting stuck. Long queues of vehicles have formed over the past few days, causing passengers significant hardship.
Information Officer at the District Traffic Police Office, East Nawalparasi, Police Senior Sub-Inspector Binod Joshi, said that while traffic jams are being cleared gradually, the dense fog and cold wave have made vehicle movement extremely difficult. Around 1,500 vehicles are reportedly stuck from Daunne to the Dumkibas forest area on the eastern section of the highway.
According to Engineer Bikas Khanal, Information Officer for the western section of the Narayangadh–Butwal road project, ongoing road construction has added to the difficulty, with muddy roads making it challenging for vehicles to climb the Daunne incline. Graveling work is currently underway at Khursani Khola, and heavy vehicles are being held at Bardaghat and Bhutaha.
The road project authorities have issued a notice urging vehicles, except those on essential services, to use alternative routes. Vehicles traveling along the East-West Highway can take the Narayangadh–Mugling–Pokhara–Syangja–Palpa route to reach Butwal. Vehicles from Kaligandaki Chowk (Gaindakot) can go via Rampur-Pipaldanda, while traffic from Kathmandu to Bardaghat and Butwal can travel through Kathmandu–Mugling–Pokhara.
The ongoing construction and maintenance combined with the cold wave have made the Daunne section particularly hazardous, prompting authorities to request drivers to exercise caution and follow alternative routes wherever possible.
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