Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Authorities in Nepal on Friday suspended public transport services to and from Kathmandu after landslides caused by incessant rain blocked several highways linked to the capital. The disruption came after heavy rainfall hit the Kathmandu Valley and several other parts of the Himalayan nation from Thursday.
Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office spokesperson Superintendent of Police Naresh Raj Subedi said public vehicles had been put on hold after landslides disrupted movement on the Prithvi and BP highways. The Prithvi Highway connects Kathmandu with Bagmati and Gandaki provinces, while the BP Highway links the capital to Madhesh province and eastern Nepal.
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Authorities have also imposed overnight restrictions on the Kavrepalanchok section of the BP Highway in response to the weather forecast, The Kathmandu Post reported. People have been advised not to use the road between 5 pm and 5 am until Sunday morning. Chief District Officer Gopal Kumar Adhikari said the authorities would assess the situation before deciding whether to extend the closure to daytime hours, the report said.
In Chitwan, the Prithvi Highway and the Narayanghat-Muglin road have been closed until further notice because of landslides and the risk of more such incidents after continuous rain. Traffic was first stopped overnight from 8 pm on Thursday to 5 am on Friday, but the closure was extended as the rain continued, Chief District Officer Ganesh Aryal was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post. The Chitwan section of the Prithvi Highway has been hit by landslides at several places. In neighbouring Dhading, landslides have been reported at seven locations: Krishnabhir, Parewabhir, Jyamireghat, Jahare, Jabangkhola, Tigraang Khola and Kamerebhir.
Long-distance public vehicles are being held back at the New Bus Park in Gongabu in Kathmandu to prevent more congestion and ensure passenger safety while clearing work is under way, The Rising Nepal reported. However, light vehicles were operating between Kathmandu and Hetauda in Bagmati province through the Pharping route. With river water levels rising, traffic authorities have told motorists not to park vehicles along river corridors.
The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs has also asked drivers and transport operators to remain cautious and coordinate with security agencies while running services amid the risk of more landslides and heavy rain. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has urged people to stay alert and avoid unnecessary travel, especially at night, while warning of heavy rainfall in different parts of the country from September 24 to 28.
The suspension of public transport to and from Kathmandu, the highway closures in Chitwan and restrictions on the BP Highway underline the wide impact of the rain, as authorities continue to monitor conditions and advise caution across Nepal.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
