Monsoon Landslides Sever Major Highways and Displace Hundreds
Relentless rain and landslides have blocked major highways across Nepal, displacing 200 families and leaving six dead in Myagdi, while repairs to the Beni–Jomsom–Korala corridor may take over a week.
Continuous heavy rainfall has triggered widespread landslides and flash floods across Nepal, severing critical transport arteries nationwide, displacing at least 200 families, and leaving six dead and three missing in the western hills.
According to reporting by Nepal Watch, severe blockages have halted vehicular movement along major national corridors. Debris flows have blocked the Prithvi Highway at Krishnabhir and Gajuri in Dhading and across several sections in Tanahun. Landslides have shut the BP Highway in Kavre, the Narayangadh–Muglin corridor, the Arniko Highway near Dhulikhel, and Kanti Lokpath in Lalitpur. River erosion along the Trishuli River washed away the Pasang Lhamu Highway at Khalte in Rasuwa, while blockades have hit the Mid-Hill, Siddhartha, and Karnali highways. Authorities have enforced nighttime transit bans and vehicle weight restrictions across several threatened hill routes.
In Myagdi district, downpours between late last week and early this week caused severe destruction. Onlinekhabar reported that 200 households were displaced, with disruptions to electricity and telecommunications impeding damage assessments. Myagdi Chief District Officer Ganesh Gaire confirmed that six bodies had been retrieved, three individuals remained missing, and a Nepal Army helicopter was deployed to support rescue and relief operations in isolated areas. Around 78 displaced residents from Paudwar in Annapurna Rural Municipality were relocated to emergency shelters in Ghar and Shikha.
Transportation links across the Kaligandaki corridor have suffered extensive damage. Nagarik News reported that 46 distinct sections along the Beni–Jomsom–Korala highway experienced debris slides, mudflows, and river cutting. Speaking at a district disaster management committee meeting, project chief Tejaswi Sharma warned that fully reopening the strategic northern trade link would take more than a week. The damaged points include five stretches along the Parbat–Maldhunga road, 16 locations between Beni and Rupse, and 25 sites extending to the Chinese border crossing, along with damage to the approach road of the bridge connecting Tatopani and Pokharebagar.
Efforts to clear transport routes have yielded partial progress on alternative tracks. Gorkhapatra reported that the Beni–Ratnechaur–Baglung road reopened on Monday evening after three days of closure, allowing ambulances and essential vehicles through after excavators cleared debris at Khabara, Sim, and Ratnechaur. Baglung Assistant Chief District Officer Kul Prasad Acharya noted that the alternative route bypasses the completely obstructed Beni–Maldhunga road, though the surface remains heavily waterlogged. Onlinekhabar added that track clearing by the Baglung Road Division has enabled light vehicle movement, while one-way traffic has been restored on sections of the Beni–Darwang and Beni–Galeshwor roads.