Prithvi Highway back in operation, 14 major roads nationwide still affected

The Prithvi Highway, which had been blocked by landslides triggered by continuous rainfall, has resumed operation.

The Ministry of Infrastructure Development said the highway reopened after a landslide in the Gajuri area of Dhading was cleared. A large landslide with debris had occurred at Chalise in Gajuri Rural Municipality-2 and at Bangemod in Ward No. 5. Landslides at other locations, including Krishnabhir, had already been cleared earlier. After the landslide at Chambas was cleared, vehicles were initially allowed to move in one-way traffic.

The Department of Roads had deployed more than two dozen pieces of heavy equipment and personnel to clear the landslides. While the highway was closed, trucks carrying food grains and other goods from the Tarai and India were stuck in a queue from Kalanki to Balkhu.

With the highway reopened, empty LPG bullet tankers that had been stranded in Kathmandu have started being sent out. According to Nepal Oil Corporation Executive Director Nagendra Sah, tankers have begun moving via Nagdhunga, and around 60 tankers stuck in the capital will now leave. He said there are also gas-filled tankers that had been stranded outside the capital.

Meanwhile, according to the Department of Roads' latest report, 14 major roads across the country remain affected. At Simaltal on the Narayangadh-Mugling road, half the road has caved in, so traffic is running one-way.

The BP Highway remains blocked at several locations due to landslides and washed-out diversions, but the department said the road could reopen by tomorrow evening if no further damage occurs. On the Kanti Highway, landslides at 3 of 4 locations have been cleared. The department estimates it will take a few more days for the Kaligandaki corridor to be fully restored.