Heavy rain prompts travel curbs, school closures across Nepal; Vehicular movement in Prithvi Highway restricted at night

Kathmandu / Sept. 24:Authorities in several parts of the country have imposed travel restrictions, suspended night-time transport and closed schools as the Meteorological Forecasting Division warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds.

The Pathibhara Area Development Committee has urged devotees to postpone visits to the Pathibhara temple in Taplejung during the rainy spell, citing the risk of landslides and road blockages.

“Given the difficult geography and poor road conditions, travel to the area could be risky,” said committee Executive Director Prajin Hangbang. The appeal came after the weather office forecast heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds.

The District Administration Office in Chitwan has also decided to halt all traffic along the Narayanghat–Muglin road from 8pm Thursday to 5am Friday, citing the risk of floods and landslides amid continuous rainfall.

In Dang, authorities have suspended night-time transport along the Dang–Salyan section of the Rapti Highway and the Dang–Kalimati–Surkhet section of the Madan Bhandari Highway for three days from Thursday. Vehicles will not be allowed to operate from 5pm to 6am.

The District Administration Office in Ilam has imposed similar restrictions on the Mechi Highway, Mechi Corridor and other high-risk roads. Night-time traffic will be prohibited from 7 pm to 5 am through Sunday morning.

The weather warning has also disrupted educational activities. Raksirang and Indrasarowar rural municipalities in Makawanpur have announced a two-day school holiday on Thursday and Friday. Raksirang chair Raj Kumar Malla said the closure was necessary as students and teachers in the remote municipality have to cross streams and rivers to reach schools.

In Salyan, all schools in Sharada and Bagchaur municipalities will remain closed on Thursday and Friday. Other local governments in the district are also considering school closures from Friday depending on weather conditions.

The Meteorological Forecasting Division has urged people already in mountainous areas for trekking to return to safer locations and those planning trips to postpone them. It has also advised the public to avoid long-distance travel amid the risk of floods and landslides from continuous rainfall expected through Sunday.

The adverse weather has also forced the Janamat Party to postpone its general convention. The convention, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Birgunj Town Hall, will now be held on Saturday, October 3, according to party spokesperson Chandan Singh.

A statement issued by party Secretariat Chief Rajesh Kumar Mandal said the date was changed due to adverse weather conditions and the expected impact of a cyclone between September 26 and 29.

Vehicular movement in Prithvi Highway restricted at night

Vehicular movement in the Prithvi Highway has been restricted from 8 pm today to 5 am tomorrow in view of continuous rainfall and likelihood of landslide risks.

Laxmi Pande, Chief District Officer of Dhanding district, said that a decision to ban traffic at night was taken in the context of continuous rainfall and risks of landslides in different places including the Krishna Bhir area.

There was a one-way traffic in the morning due to landslide at Krihsna Bhir. But, now the debris has been removed and the road is in operation as usual.