Landslides block highway, over 150,000 cylinders' worth of gas stuck on tankers

Continuous rainfall since Wednesday night has triggered floods and landslides that have blocked highways, disrupting the supply of cooking gas to Kathmandu Valley. A total of 125 gas tankers (bullets) have been stranded on the road.

According to the Nepal Oil Corporation, some of the tankers that loaded gas at the Birgunj customs point are stranded in Ramnagar in Chitwan, some in Hetauda, and others at various safe locations. Since each tanker carries an average of 1,250 cylinders' worth of gas, more than 150,000 cylinders' worth of gas is currently stuck on the road.

The Corporation says no new gas tanker has been able to enter Kathmandu Valley since the rain began on Wednesday. Because of the poor condition of the roads, tankers carrying gas from India as well as other cargo trucks have been unable to enter the valley.

As gas tankers fail to reach the valley on time, the risk of a gas shortage in Kathmandu has increased.