Clearance work began at 6am Wednesday on the landslide that fell near Tuinkhola along the Narayanghat-Muglin road on Tuesday.

With an estimated 12,000 to 14,000 cubic metres of debris blocking the section, the Division Road Office in Bharatpur said the road is unlikely to reopen before Thursday afternoon if conditions remain stable.

The Chitwan District Administration Office on Tuesday evening urged travellers to avoid the Narayanghat-Muglin road.

Krishna Acharya, information officer at Road Division Office, Bharatpur, said excavators are working from both sides, but loose rocks continue to fall, forcing operators to work cautiously. Authorities have also requested motorists not to park vehicles along the road section.

The Narayanghat-Muglin road was closed by a landslide on Friday evening and reopened partially after 45 hours on Sunday afternoon. It was opened for two-way traffic on Tuesday, but falling rocks forced repeated closures.

The latest major slide occurred around 5pm Tuesday at the same area. The road is a vital link between Kathmandu, Pokhara and the East-West Highway, with over 10,000 vehicles travelling daily.

With the Dashain festival prompting increased outbound travel from Kathmandu, the disruption has left thousands of passengers stranded.