More than a dozen major road sections across Nepal, including the Prithvi Highway, have been blocked by floods and landslides triggered by continuous rainfall, the Nepal Police Headquarters announced on Saturday, October 31. Heavy rain over the past three days has disrupted key transport routes across the country.

Source: NTV World (Nepal Television)

The Prithvi Highway, a main route linking Kathmandu with the west, is completely blocked in both directions at Parewabhir in Gajuri Rural Municipality-2 of Dhading district after a landslide brought debris down onto the road. The BP Highway is obstructed at two locations in Kavrepalanchok district — since 4:55 am on Saturday, debris and mud carried by swollen seasonal streams have blocked the road at Pinthali in Roshi Rural Municipality-9 and at Gimdibesi in Roshi Rural Municipality-8.

Source: NTV World (Nepal Television)

Karnali, Kaligandaki and Mid-Hill routes also hit

In Surkhet district, a dry landslide has completely blocked the Karnali Highway at Aulise in Barahatal Rural Municipality-7. The Kaligandaki Corridor is blocked at two locations — by mud and debris at Rakse in Kaligandaki Rural Municipality-2 of Gulmi district, and by rocks at Kasiban in Rampur Municipality-1 of Palpa. In Mugu district, the Nagma-Gamgadhi road is blocked at Talcha in Chhayanath Rara Municipality-7, and sections of the Mid-Hill Highway in Khotang, the Bagmati River Corridor in Lalitpur and the Kanti Lokpath — impassable at Balkhu Sundarighat in Lalitpur Metropolitan City-2 due to rising water — are also affected.

Source: Nmkhabar

The disruptions follow the weakening of Cyclone Arnab, which developed in the Bay of Bengal and has turned into a powerful low-pressure system bringing heavy rain to the country, Nmkhabar reported. Vibhuti Pokharel, spokesperson for the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, advised the public to follow official updates from the department for the latest weather information, and police urged travellers to check road conditions before setting out.