The Arunkhola-Dumkibas section of the East-West Highway has been disrupted as flooded streams swept away road diversions in three different places. Transportation came to a halt at 5am on Wednesday and is yet to resume.

According to Prabin Thapa, a consultant engineer of China State Engineering Corporation which is carrying out Narayanghat-Butwal road expansion work, vehicular movement could not be resumed along the road stretch on Wednesday. Hundreds of passengers have been stranded due to road obstructions.

“Efforts are underway to resume transportation by installing hume pipes. But the continuous rains have affected work,” said Thapa. The rains briefly stopped in the afternoon but it started again at 4pm.

Road widening work along the 114km Narayanghat-Butwal section, one of the busiest road stretches along the East-West Highway, is underway. Diversions have been made at several places for the construction work. According to the locals, these diversions are often swept away during monsoon as there is no proper water outlet system.

“There aren’t proper water outlets for the floodwaters. So the diversions are often damaged when it rains in the area,” said Laldhwoj Shrestha of Arunkhola.

Assistant Chief District Officer Khimraj Bhusal said it was uncertain when vehicular movement along the highway would be resumed. “We are working in the field. Efforts are on. But the continuous rains have affected the road repair work,” said Bhusal.

Meanwhile, the water level in the Narayani River has risen in the last 36 hours following continuous rainfall in the district.

Several settlements from Gaindakot to Trivenidham near the river are at risk of flooding and inundation.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology issued a notice on Wednesday appealing to the residents of Kawasoti, Danda and Giruwari areas to exercise caution since the water level in the Gandak Barrage in Triveni has risen sharply.

According to the Water Measurement Centre, the water level at Triveni Barrage has reached 227,000 cusec litres.

Chief District Officer of East Nawalparasi Suman Ghimire said that an emergency situation could arise in the surrounding areas if the water level in the Narayani River crosses the danger mark.

The Centre in Devghat warned that the water level in the Narayani River had already crossed the six-metre mark by Wednesday evening. Water level above seven metres is considered very dangerous.