KATHMANDU: The heavy rain that lashed parts of Kathmandu Valley on Friday night partially blocked the flow of the Bagmati River in the Gaushala-Sinamangal stretch due to solid waste and debris washed away by the river.

Police and the Department of Roads used bulldozers and excavators to remove the debris which had clogged hume pipes laid along the Pashupati-Koteshwor Corridor to make a diversion into the river.

The river was partially blocked from 1:00 to 8:00am before officials intervened after locals of the squatters’ settlement sought their help to prevent any untoward incident.

Sundarijal and Baghdwar, the origin of the river, experienced heavy rain last night, and the floodwater washed away the debris. A community park, vegetable market and some houses near Shantinagar were waterlogged due to blockage of the river. No casualty or property damage was reported, police said.

Activists of the Bagmati River Mega Clean-up Campaign had created a diversion by using hume pipes in the stretch to stop solid waste thrown into the water body.

A similar diversion has also been created in the Dhobi Khola stretch of Bijuli Bazaar. Officials said the diversion was also partially blocked for some hours before they removed the debris.