KATHMANDU, Aug 7: Last year, the Mugling-Narayanghat road section was closed for a total of 120 hours due to landslides, heavy rainfall, and road expansion work.
In particular, the ongoing road expansion has significantly affected the journey of passengers traveling on this highway.
Government data reveals that over 10,000 vehicles ply this 36-kilometer road section every day, which connects Western Nepal with the capital city.
Two-way traffic resumes on Mugling-Narayanghat road section
A comprehensive government investigation found that this road section is blocked more than 30 times annually due to floods and landslides.
According to the report, in 2022 alone, the road was obstructed 36 times and was closed for 133 hours. This is equivalent to continuous closure of the road section for five and a half days.
Similarly, the road section was obstructed 30 times and was closed for 123 hours in 2023.
This year, the road section has been blocked 29 hours till mid-July and according to the report, the road section was blocked three times for nearly 18.5 hours in the Simaltal region alone.
The road section was blocked in Simaltal due to a landslide that occurred on 12th July and washed away two buses into the Trishuli River; 62 passengers of the buses are still missing.
