Landslides triggered by continuous rainfall since Saturday night have blocked several sections of the Karnali Highway, cutting off road access in parts of Kalikot, Dailekh and Jumla.

Kalikot Police chief Tek Bahadur Rawat said the highway is blocked at Gaganekhola and Bihani in Kalikot, Khidki Jyula in Dailekh, and near Nagma on the Kalikot-Jumla border along the road to Mugu.

“The road access to Dailekh has been cut off since yesterday evening. Earthmovers have been deployed to clear the landslides,” he said.

Flooding in the Phugad river along the Karnali Corridor has also obstructed traffic. Rawat said the flood between Raskot and Pachhal Jharana has left motorcycles and small vehicles unable to cross. He said that the roads are expected to reopen once the rainfall eases.

Vehicles heading to Surkhet via Kalikot have been stranded at several locations due to the closures.

Meanwhile, the Narayanghat–Muglin section reopened after being blocked by a dry landslide at Tuinkhola in ward 5 of Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality this morning. Two-way traffic resumed around 8:15am after clearance, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Rapindra Khanal, spokesperson for Chitwan District Police Office.