Major highways to Kathmandu blocked, only Tribhuvan Highway open

Continuous rainfall has triggered landslides at several locations, blocking the Prithvi Highway, BP Highway and Kantilok Path, the major roads connecting Kathmandu with the rest of the country.

Valley Traffic Police spokesperson Naresh Raj Subedi said the Tribhuvan Highway has been kept open one-way, only in the Makwanpur-to-Kathmandu direction, to allow essential food and fuel supplies into the Valley.

According to the District Police Office, Dhading, landslides have occurred at around seven locations on the Prithvi Highway, with the road completely blocked at Krishnabhir and Tigrang Khola. At Krishnabhir, the gabion structure on the river side of the newly built track has subsided somewhat.

Police said alternative roads via Kulekhani-Pharping, Tokha-Chahare and Sankhu remain open for small vehicles.

The Bharatpur Road Division Office said that after landslide debris was cleared on the Narayangadh-Mugling section, vehicles have started moving only toward Pokhara, while traffic toward Kathmandu remains suspended. Cargo trucks leaving Kathmandu are stranded at Kalanki, Balkhu and Naagdhunga.

According to the Home Ministry's Disaster Response Section, around 14 highways and road sections are blocked nationwide, about 10 of them in Bagmati Province. The Makwanpur administration has banned vehicles carrying more than about 15 tonnes, except fuel and gas carriers, from plying the Tribhuvan Highway.

At Chaukidanda on the BP Highway, the Roshi Khola has washed away a temporary diversion; the Bhaktapur Division Road Office said vehicles will use the old track once rainfall stops.