Kathmandu, Sept. 25: Public buses to and from Kathmandu have been halted after heavy rain triggered landslides and flooding on highways linking the capital with other parts of the country.
Landslides at several points along the Prithvi and BP highways have disrupted traffic, said Superintendent of Police Naresh Raj Subedi, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office. Light vehicles are still using the route through Pharping, he said.
The disruption has left passengers waiting in Kathmandu and along the affected routes. Pankaj Malla, general manager of Lhotse Multipurpose Pvt Ltd, said departures from the New Bus Park in Gongabu had been suspended since Thursday evening as reports of blocked highways came in.
Rain has continued in the Kathmandu Valley since Thursday morning, raising water levels in local rivers. Traffic police have urged motorists not to park along river corridors, where rising water could put vehicles and their occupants at risk.
The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs has asked drivers to take care on the roads and urged operators to coordinate with security agencies before running services. With rain still falling, conditions can change even after a blocked stretch is cleared.
Government agencies have warned of heavy rainfall in parts of the country from September 24 to 28 and urged the public to remain alert to floods and landslides. Passengers planning to leave or enter Kathmandu may need to check the condition of their route and the status of bus services before travelling.
Authorities have not said when public transport on the affected highways will resume. Clearing landslide debris and assessing the safety of damaged road sections will determine when buses can run again.
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