Nepal deploys heavy machinery as monsoon landslides disrupt highways

Nepal's Department of Roads has mobilized 155 heavy machinery units across major highways to combat disruptions caused by monsoon-triggered landslides. An additional 122 machines are on standby for emergency responses.

Landslides have repeatedly blocked key road corridors nationwide, leading to closures, traffic diversions, and travel restrictions. The Narayanghat-Muglin road is among the most affected, with frequent slides at Tuin Khola causing daily traffic halts. Road officials have stationed excavators and technical teams at vulnerable spots to clear debris swiftly and restore traffic.

As landslide risks intensify with heavy rainfall forecasts, the Chitwan District Administration Office has imposed night-time traffic bans on sections of the Narayanghat-Muglin and Nagdhunga-Muglin roads. This measure aims to enhance safety during the peak monsoon season.

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Because construction is ongoing, landslides are occurring not only at known vulnerable sites but also at new locations.

High-risk routes extend beyond Chitwan, encompassing highways through steep hills and river corridors. Officials have identified several vulnerable routes, including the Kanti Highway, BP Highway, Nagdhunga-Muglin road, and others along the Koshi, Karnali, and Kaligandaki corridors. The under-construction Nagdhunga-Muglin road is particularly susceptible, with sites like Jhyaple Khola having witnessed a deadly landslide in September 2024 that killed 35 people.

Saujanya Nepal, chief of the Federal Highway Supervision and Monitoring Office, noted that ongoing construction on some stretches, like the Nagdhunga-Muglin road, has increased landslide risks. "Because construction is ongoing, landslides are occurring not only at known vulnerable sites but also at new locations," Nepal stated. He added that prolonged rainfall remains the primary challenge, but debris is cleared and traffic resumes once the rain subsides.

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So far, the major landslides have been confined to a few highway sections. We have stationed machines at those locations, and once the rain stops, debris is cleared and traffic resumes.