Transport operations suspended in 25 districts of Nepal due to floods and landslides

KATHMANDU:- Daily life—from roadways to settlements—has been disrupted across various parts of the country due to the heightened risk of floods, landslides, and inundation caused by continuous rainfall. Rising water levels in rivers and streams have put riverside settlements at risk of flooding, while floods, landslides, and mudflows have obstructed roads and transportation in hilly regions.

Home Minister Sudhan Gurung visited the area surrounding the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) headquarters in Chyasal, Lalitpur, and received a briefing from security personnel regarding the condition of the river and the water flow. Speaking to the media during the visit, he noted that security personnel were deployed in the field with a state of high alertness.

Due to heightened risks, the operation of vehicles has been banned in 25 districts of western Nepal on Friday and Saturday. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has directed the concerned agencies to manage transportation based on the level of risk.

According to Authority spokesperson Shanti Mahat, instructions have been issued to manage vehicular movement by categorizing districts into different zones based on risk levels. Districts where transportation has been completely halted include Darchula, Bajhang, Bajura, Kailali, and Kanchanpur in Sudurpaschim Province, and Dolpa, Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu, Humla, and Surkhet in Karnali Province.

Similarly, a two-day suspension of vehicular movement has been ordered for the districts of Pyuthan, Dang, Rupandehi, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, Gulmi, Kapilvastu, Banke, and Bardiya in Lumbini Province, as well as Manang, Mustang, Gorkha, Lamjung, and Syangja in Gandaki Province.

Likewise, a ban on nighttime vehicle operations has been issued for an additional 30 districts where there is a likelihood of heavy rainfall. Residents in the remaining 22 districts—where rain is also expected—have been urged to exercise caution; these include most districts in Koshi and Madhesh provinces, along with Makwanpur and Sindhuli in Bagmati Province.

A 50-year-old man, Shyam Bahadur Syangtan, has died after being swept away by a river in Makwanpurgadhi. In Lokanthali, Bhaktapur, 98 people from 16 households have been relocated to safety due to the rising risk of inundation caused by the flooding of the Hanumante River.

Police reported that approximately 400 people have been relocated to safety in Nawalparasi West after water from the Narayani River entered their settlements.

According to Nepal Police spokesperson Abinarayan Kafle, residents living along the riverbanks in the Kathmandu Valley—including areas near the Manohara, Bagmati, and Bishnumati rivers—have been urged to remain alert following a rise in water levels.

Daily life has been severely disrupted by floods and landslides in areas including Rasuwa, Dhading, the Narayanghat-Mugling road section in Chitwan, and Roshi Rural Municipality in Kavre.

Flooding in the Rosi River has affected settlements in Sindhuli, while mud-laden floodwaters have disrupted movement in various parts of Okhaldhunga.

Several sections of the Chame-Besisahar road in Manang, the Sisnebhir-Rudrabeni-Wamitaksar road in Gulmi, and the Ghorahi-Thabang-Rukum road in Rolpa have been affected by floods and landslides.

Police reported that a landslide in Palpa damaged two houses and left a woman missing. In Solukhumbu, 38 people at risk from floods, landslides, and avalanches have been relocated to safety.