KATHMANDU: Continuous rainfall, floods and landslides have disrupted major highways and secondary roads across Nepal, with several routes either fully or partially blocked. Amid the heightened risk of natural disasters, authorities in several districts have restricted night-time travel and advised motorists to use alternative routes where possible.
In Nuwakot, the Tokha-Chhahare road section has been closed to private and public vehicles, except those providing essential services, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The Pasang Lhamu Highway in Rasuwa remains completely blocked due to river erosion and flooding. Similar restrictions on night travel are in place in Bhojpur, Solukhumbu and Udayapur in Koshi Province, as well as along the Madi Chaur section of the Madan Bhandari Highway in Rolpa.
In Gandaki Province, night-time travel has been prohibited on several rural roads and highways in Manang, Kaski, Mustang, Myagdi and Parbat. In Bagmati Province, the Narayangadh-Mugling and Prithvi highways have been closed indefinitely following multiple landslides. Heavy debris and boulders have blocked the Prithvi Highway at Krishnabhir and Panidhara in Dhading. Following the closure of the Kanti Lokpath in Makwanpur, authorities have introduced a schedule for traffic on the Tribhuvan Rajpath and banned cargo vehicles weighing more than 15 tonnes or having more than 10 wheels.
Night travel has also been suspended on the BP and Araniko highways in Sindhuli, Kavre and Sindhupalchok due to the risk of landslides. Significant blockages have been reported in Pakucha and other parts of Kavre. Elsewhere, sections of the Siddhicharan Highway, Kali Gandaki Corridor, Karnali Highway, Mahakali Highway and Siddhartha Highway have been blocked by mud and debris.
In Dang, the Gwar Khola bridge along the Tulsipur-Ghorahi road has been closed after soil erosion weakened the area beneath the structure. Meanwhile, the District Administration Office in Doti has suspended all vehicular movement for 24 hours. Road authorities and security agencies are continuing efforts to clear blocked sections and restore traffic.
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