Kavrepalanchowk: The Kavrepalanchowk road section along the BP Highway is set to remain closed for 12 hours each night over the next month. The District Administration Office of Kavrepalanchowk has confirmed that traffic will be halted from 5:00 pm to 5:00 am, from Kavrebhanjyang to Nepalthok, near the Sindhuli border, in response to increased landslide and flood risks during the active monsoon season.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Chief District Officer of Kavrepalanchowk, Umesh Kumar Dhakal, announced this precautionary measure following significant disruptions caused by landslides and floods in recent weeks. Previous meetings of the inter-district coordination committee, which includes Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhuli, and Ramechhap districts, had decided on a closure from 6:30 pm to 5:00 am, starting June 21.
In the past week alone, this section of the highway has been disrupted four times due to severe weather conditions. The highway suffered extensive damage during the unseasonal downpours in September 2024, particularly between Chaukidanda of Kavrepalanchowk and Barshekhola of Sindhuli. An eight-kilometre stretch was completely swept away by floods.
Of the total 160-kilometre highway, 34 kilometres on the third section from Khurkot to Nepalthok of Sindhuli and 50 kilometres on the fourth section from Nepalthok to Dhulikhel of Kavrepalanchowk were damaged at various locations. Restoration contracts have been initiated for the highway, divided into four sections.
The BP Highway serves as the shortest route connecting the Kathmandu Valley with eastern Nepal, facilitating the movement of thousands of vehicles daily.