DHANGADHI: Vehicular movement across the Banbasa Bridge at the Nepal-India border has been halted due to rising water level in the Mahakali River.

According to DSP Netra KC at the Armed Police Force Border Security Office in Gadda Chauki of Kanchanpur district in far-western Nepal, the water level was measured at 110,929 cubic foot per second (cusec) on Friday and it was considered alarmingly high.

The vehicles plying the road has been stranded as cautious measures were undertaken by both sides.

Meanwhile, the rising water level in the Mahakali River has caused panic among denizens of Darchula district headquarters and people residing by the River in the region. Earlier, in 2013, the swollen Mahakali had washed away swathes of land in the district headquarters Khalanga.

Darchula Chief District Officer Mohan Raj Joshi said a District Rapid Response Team has been kept on standby.

Locals fear that the swollen Mahakali River might change its course and erode human settlements.