Key Takeaways:

• Gandaki Province suspends night travel in eight districts
• Makwanpur DAO issues advisories for Hetauda–Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Sindhuli routes
• BP Highway, Kanti Lokpath and Mechi Highway face closures and blockages
• Landslides obstruct Araniko Highway, Kaligandaki Corridor and roads in Kavrepalanchok

KATHMANDU, JULY 19 Authorities have imposed night-time travel restrictions on several major highways and issued advisories as heavy monsoon rains continue to raise risks of floods, landslides and road blockages across Nepal. In Gandaki Province, night-time vehicular movement has been suspended in Kaski, Gorkha, Lamjung, Syangja, Tanahun, Baglung, Parbat and Myagdi districts after the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology forecast heavy rainfall on July 19 and 20. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) urged residents to avoid non-essential travel and remain indoors. Assistant Chief District Officer of Kaski, Chitrangat Baral, said transport services connecting Kaski with neighbouring districts would remain halted during the night for two days, with disaster-response mechanisms placed on standby. Meanwhile, the District Administration Office in Makwanpur issued a travel advisory covering major road links from Hetauda to Kathmandu, Chitwan, Lalitpur and Sindhuli. Vehicles heading to Kathmandu via Deurali will be stopped at Chaukitol from Saturday evening until 5 am Sunday, while those bound for Lalitpur through the Kanti Highway will be halted at Chaughada from 6 pm Saturday. Travellers were urged to avoid unnecessary journeys and refrain from crossing flooded roads or bridges. Persistent rainfall has already affected several highways. The Khurkot–Nepalthok–Katunjebesi section of the BP Highway linking Kavrepalanchok and Sindhuli has been closed nightly from 6 pm to 4 am until further notice. All vehicles have also been barred from using the Kanti Lokpath between 5 pm and 5 am. The Mechi Highway at Rajduwali in Ilam has been blocked after the road turned muddy. Landslides have obstructed multiple routes, including the Saljhandi–Dhorpatan road in Arghakhanchi, the Araniko Highway in Sindhupalchok, and the Kaligandaki Corridor in Baglung. In Kavrepalanchok, slides at Ghumaune, Gimdi, Biruwadanda and Pinthali have completely disrupted traffic along sections of the BP Highway. Authorities have advised the public to monitor official updates, exercise caution while travelling and remain prepared for possible weather-related emergencies as monsoon activity intensifies.