Eight highways across the country closed, traffic expected to resume in Krishna Bhir within this month

KATHMANDU:- Traffic movement across various districts—including Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading—has been disrupted due to unexpected flooding in the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa on Bhadra 10 (August 26, 2026).

According to the Nepal Police, as of Sunday evening, the Trishuli-Mailung-Syaphrubesi road section at Khalte (Uttargaya Rural Municipality-5, Rasuwa) remains completely blocked due to the floods. It is reported that this road will remain closed for an extended period. Police have stated that all major highways in Rasuwa are completely blocked until further notice.

Rasuwa’s Chief District Officer, Kamal Prasad Pandey, stated that although an alternative route is currently operational in the Naukunda area of ​​Rasuwa, it is extremely hazardous. Temporary arrangements for movement have been made in various locations using wooden bridges and *tuins* (improvised cable crossings).

He noted that connectivity would improve significantly if the Betrawati and Syaphrubesi road sections were linked. Pandey said, “It would certainly be better if Betrawati and Syaphrubesi were connected. The groundwork for linking all the roads is gradually being established.”

Due to the risk of floods and landslides, the Tokha-Chhahare road section at Ghattekhola in Shivapuri Rural Municipality-8 has been closed until further notice. Police have reported that the Pasang Lhamu road section at Simtar in Bidur Municipality-10, Nuwakot, remains completely blocked due to flooding until further notice. Following the floods, road connectivity to areas across the Trishuli River in Nuwakot has been severed.

Krishna Prasad Humagai, the Assistant Chief District Officer of Nuwakot, informed that arrangements—including electricity and telecommunications—have been made to ensure immediate connectivity. Humagai states, “To facilitate movement across the river and allow people to visit their relatives, *tuins* (improvised cable crossings) have also been installed in some locations as a temporary measure.”

As for Nuwakot, transport connectivity on the near side of the Trishuli River has largely been restored. However, the journey towards Rasuwa—normally a half-hour trip—now takes eight to nine hours. The trilateral highway connecting Galchhi, Trishuli, Mailung, Syaphrubesi, and Rasuwagadhi is in a severely damaged state. He also noted that a food shortage is expected to worsen in the Rasuwa region due to the disruption of road links.

In Dhading district, the Prithvi Highway is completely blocked at Krishnabhir in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-10 due to a landslide, while traffic is moving in one direction at the Jwangkhola and Shitalbazar (Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality) sections of the highway. Dhading’s Chief District Officer, Laxmi Pandey Gautam, stated that the Prithvi Highway has been obstructed due to floods that occurred on Bhadra 10 and Bhadra 14.

Gautam said, “After the floods on Bhadra 10, we had been operating one-way traffic by clearing debris and repairing the road. However, the floods on Bhadra 14 caused total damage at Krishnabhir, resulting in a complete halt to vehicular movement in the area.”

He stated that after technical personnel inspected and assessed the road at Krishnabhir, some vehicles stranded in the area were sent through on a trial basis on Sunday.

He stated, “The work of opening the track has reached its final stages. Today, we briefly operated the vehicles—including trucks and buses—that had been held up there to conduct a test run. Since some tasks, such as drainage work, remain to be completed over the next two days, the road will be fully closed for that period; work is proceeding with the aim of fully opening the route to two-way traffic by the end of this month.” He added that, barring any further damage, two-way traffic would resume at Krishabhir by the end of the month.

Traffic on the Narayangadh-Muglin road, which had been suspended due to maintenance work, has resumed on a one-way basis, subject to traffic volume. In Sindhupalchok, the Araniko Highway is completely blocked at Ghattekhola in Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality-2 due to a landslide. In Kavre, the movement of all vehicles along the Khurkot-Nepalthok-Katunjebesi section of the BP Highway has been halted since Bhadra 16, pending further notice, due to the risk of flooding.

It has been announced that on the BP Highway, cargo vehicles weighing up to ten tons will be permitted to operate from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM until further notice, while the movement of vehicles between 4:00 AM and 6:00 PM will be allowed subject to an assessment of the situation.

In the Panchthar district of Koshi Province, the Phidim-Phalot road section at Akashebhanjyang in Phalelung Rural Municipality-9 is completely blocked due to a landslide. Meanwhile, in the Manang district of Gandaki Province, the Chame-Besishahar road section at Dharapani in Naso Rural Municipality-3 has been opened to small vehicles following road construction work.