Seven highways blocked, East-West Highway shut in Kapilvastu, Kaligandaki bridge approach washed away

Seven of the country's highways have been completely blocked and three are only partially operating due to floods and landslides.

According to the Department of Roads' update as of 8 pm Saturday, the East-West, Prithvi, BP, Rapti and Karnali highways, along with the Tamor Corridor and the Besisahar-Chame road, are closed. Landslides have hit the Prithvi Highway at Krishnabhir, Chaukibhir, Fisling and Chalise, among other places, while landslides persist at Mamte, Piple and Katunje on the BP Highway.

According to the District Police Office, Kapilvastu, a landslide near Viral Danda on the Dang-Kapilvastu section around 8 pm Saturday has halted traffic on the East-West Highway. Among the blocked highways, the Kanti Lokpath has since reopened.

Floods in the Kaligandaki river have washed away the Nawalpur-side approach road of the motorable bridge connecting Nawalpur and Tanahun. Deputy Superintendent of Police Anil Pandit said vehicle and pedestrian movement has been halted on the Gandaki provincial road connecting Dedhgaun in Baudikali Rural Municipality-2 with Ghiring in Tanahun, which is the shortest route linking Nawalpur with Pokhara.

Traffic police said seven main roads are blocked in Lumbini Province. The Kaligandaki Corridor at Rakse in Gulmi has been closed since Friday morning, and the Rudrabeni-Wamitaksar road at Shishnebhir since Friday afternoon. A landslide has also blocked the Madan Bhandari Highway at Shringe Deurali, Chhatrakot-3.

Police have urged caution on the roads.