HETAUDA: The Deurali-Sisneri road section will be closed to traffic from 4 pm Sunday as the water level in the Kulekhani reservoir continues to rise following continuous rainfall.
Makwanpur Chief District Officer Basanta Adhikari said traffic in both directions would remain closed from 4 pm Sunday until 5 am Monday.
He said the precautionary measure was taken as the reservoir level continues to rise and there could be a need to release water from the dam in an emergency during the night.
“If vehicles are operating when the warning siren sounds, it could cause panic among drivers and passengers. Some sections of the road could also be at risk if water has to be released suddenly, so we decided to stop traffic in advance,” Adhikari said.
According to the district administration, vehicles traveling toward Deurali-Sisneri via Bhaise and those traveling from Kathmandu’s Pharping toward Sisneri-Deurali-Hetauda will not be allowed to operate during the closure period.
Passengers who need to travel between Kathmandu and Hetauda are advised to use the Tribhuvan Highway.
The administration said vehicles using the highway must also operate according to the schedule set by the District Administration Office.
Adhikari clarified that the gates of the Kulekhani dam have not been opened and that the closure is a precautionary measure in view of the potential risk.
The administration said it is continuously monitoring the condition of the reservoir and downstream areas.
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