KATHMANDU – The Muglin–Kathmandu section of the Prithvi Highway remains completely blocked at Krishnabhir in Dhading after the Trishuli River eroded the base of the road, causing a major section to collapse. The damage has stopped normal traffic on one of the most important road links connecting Kathmandu with other parts of the country.
The damaged section is located at Krishnabhir in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-7. Hundreds of vehicles, including passenger buses and freight trucks, have been affected by the closure. Vehicles travelling from Kathmandu through the Prithvi Highway have also been stopped from proceeding normally along the route.
The Prithvi Highway is a major transport route for passengers and goods entering the Kathmandu Valley, connecting the capital with Pokhara, western Nepal and important trade routes. Its closure has therefore raised concerns about possible disruption to the regular movement of vegetables, food products and other essential supplies into Kathmandu.
The Department of Roads has deployed a technical team to assess the damage at Krishnabhir. Officials say the terrain remains difficult and the Trishuli River continues to erode the area below the highway, making immediate restoration challenging. Repair work will proceed based on the technical assessment.
Alternative routes are being used to maintain connectivity while the highway remains closed. Authorities have suggested routes through Gorkha, while other traffic is being diverted through routes including the Kanti and Tribhuvan highways depending on vehicle type and destination.
The disruption has become more serious after another section of the Prithvi Highway at Parewatar in Gajuri Rural Municipality-3, Dhading, was also washed away following continued erosion by the Trishuli River. Traffic remains blocked in both directions at the affected section.
While the prolonged highway disruption could affect the movement and prices of essential goods, specific claims that more than 70 percent of Kathmandu’s supplies use this exact section or that fresh-produce prices will rise by 15–30 percent should not be presented as confirmed facts without an authoritative source.
Image: AI Generated
