Trishuli floods collapse Krishnabhir section of Prithvi Highway

Flooding and erosion along the Trishuli River have caused a major section of the Prithvi Highway at Krishnabhir in Dhading to collapse, halting traffic between Kathmandu and the rest of the country.

The road began sinking on Sunday morning after the swollen river battered the highway embankment. Continued erosion has made the area unsafe even for pedestrians, and authorities have stopped all movement through the damaged section.

The incident followed a rise in water levels along the Trishuli and Bhote Koshi rivers. The Flood Forecasting Division said the river flow had increased from Rasuwa toward Nuwakot but reported no major flood risk in the riverbank areas of Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading at the time of its morning assessment.

Flood alerts from Rasuwa prompted authorities to stop vehicles in Chitwan and at Kathmandu’s Nagdhunga from early morning as a precaution. The situation caused confusion and movement restrictions along the wider Kathmandu-bound corridor.

A technical assessment has found that the highway cannot be reopened immediately. Teams from the Department of Roads and Nepal Police are assessing the damage, but no timeline has been set for repairs.

Authorities are diverting traffic through alternative routes, including the Tribhuvan Highway, Hetauda–Kulekhani–Pharping road, Kanti Lokpath and sections of the Pushpalal Mid-Hill Highway. Most alternatives are suitable mainly for smaller vehicles, while heavy vehicles face restrictions.

The closure of the Prithvi Highway has raised concerns over traffic congestion and the supply of essential goods to Kathmandu, with thousands of vehicles normally using the route each day.

Flood sweeps away suspension bridge

The flooding also caused further damage downstream, washing away a suspension bridge connecting Charaudi in Dhading with Ghyalchok in Gorkha.

The bridge linked Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-7 in Dhading with Gandaki Rural Municipality-8 in Gorkha. Its collapse has made it difficult for local residents to cross the Trishuli River.

The Charaudi-side tower of the bridge was swept away, while the tower on the Gorkha side was reportedly tilted by the force of the floodwaters.

Local residents also reported damage to a cooperative building and a school in Charaudi. The facilities had not been damaged during the previous flood on August 26.

Additionally, four houses in the Chiraudi riverbank area were swept away in Galchhi Rural Municipality-4 as the Trishuli’s flow increased.