Three days of continuous rain have disrupted several major road links to Kathmandu, with floods and landslides blocking or damaging highways and forcing authorities to halt traffic on several routes.

The Prithvi Highway, a major road connecting Kathmandu with western Nepal, has been affected at several locations, while flooding has washed away newly built diversions on the BP Highway in Kavrepalanchok. Alternative routes linking Kathmandu with Hetauda have also been disrupted, leaving travellers facing restrictions on several major road corridors.

According to the Department of Roads, the gabion wall on the Trishuli River side of Krishnabhir slope along the Prithvi Highway has subsided. The section was already damaged on August 30, when flooding in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system caused the road to sink, prompting authorities to construct a new track.

The newly expanded track itself has not sustained major damage, but mud has accumulated on the road, according to Sajana Adhikari, chief of the Malekhu-Mugling road project. Vehicles can resume movement once the mud is cleared, she said, but the risk will remain as long as the rain continues.

The highway has also been restricted to a single lane at two locations near Dharapani, close to Kurintar, after sections of the road subsided. Rocks and small landslides have fallen at several other locations, including Chundhunga, Jawang Khola and Jyamireghat.

The section from Mugling to Narayanghat and Pokhara remained open on Friday, with the Division Road Office in Bharatpur saying it was at lower risk and had not been damaged by floods or landslides.

The BP Highway, another key road connecting Kathmandu with eastern and central parts of the country, was also disrupted after a flooded Roshi river washed away two temporary diversions in Kavrepalanchok. The diversions at Chaukidanda in ward 6 of Namobuddha Municipality and Ghumawane in ward 7 of Roshi Rural Municipality were swept away, according to police.

Other alternative routes to Kathmandu were also affected. Traffic on the Hetauda-Kathmandu routes was restricted after landslides, with vehicles barred from using the Mahendra Highway and Kanti Lokpath. The Chitwan administration has also stopped travel on the Mahendra and Prithvi highways indefinitely, while the Lalitpur administration has restricted traffic on Kanti Lokpath until Saturday.

The District Administration Office in Dhading has completely stopped traffic on sections of the Prithvi Highway, citing the risk of landslides at Parewabhir, Kamerobhir and Chalise areas. Authorities said traffic would resume after the rain subsides and obstructions are cleared.

Long-distance vehicles operating in Karnali have also been suspended because of the risk of floods, landslides and road blockages. The provincial police said long-distance services to Surkhet, Nepalgunj, Jumla, Humla, Kalikot, Dolpa, Salyan and Rukum had been stopped, while short-distance local services were being operated depending on road conditions.

The Siddhartha Highway was completely blocked near the lower Siddhababa temple in ward 3 of Tinau Rural Municipality in Palpa, after rocks fell onto the road. Police said continuous rain was making it difficult to clear the obstruction.

Police headquarters said several other roads had been completely blocked by floods and landslides, including the Nagdhunga-Mugling road, the Hetauda-Bhimphedi-Kathmandu road, the Tamor Corridor in Panchthar, the Siddhicharan Highway in Okhaldhunga, the BP Highway in Kavrepalanchok, the Chame-Besisahar road (connecting Manang and Lamjung districts) and the Ghorahi-Rolpa-Thawang Shahid Marga in Dang.

The prolonged rain has brought snowfall to higher elevations, prompting authorities to suspend trekking in parts of the mountain trails.

In Manang, the district administration has banned trekking in high-altitude areas for three days, from Friday to Sunday, as rain and snowfall continue across the upper reaches.

The restrictions cover popular destinations and passes including Tilicho Lake, Thorong La, Ice Lake, Kang La and Bhimthang. Tourists already on the trails have been told not to proceed to higher elevations and to remain in safe locations until conditions improve.

Snow has been reported from around 3,300 metres in Humde and above, while lower areas have received rain. Snow has also fallen in settlements in Narpa Bhumi Rural Municipality and on the higher hills around Chame and towards Lamjung Himal.

The weather has also disrupted trekking along the Manaslu trail. Snowfall has continued above Manaslu Base Camp for about two weeks and affected mountaineering activities, while heavy rain since Thursday has led authorities to restrict movement along parts of the trekking route.

The deteriorating conditions have prompted wider warnings for trekkers in the Annapurna, Manaslu and Khumbu regions. Conservation authorities and local governments have urged visitors to check weather conditions before travelling and avoid risky trails, riverbanks and streams.

The Annapurna Conservation Area Project reported light snowfall in Manang and rain in several popular trekking areas, including Lomanthang, Kagbeni, Jomsom, Ghassa, Pothana, Ghandruk, Chhomrong, Sikles and Simpani in Lamjung.

In the Khumbu region, rain has been reported in Namche Bazaar, while heavier snowfall has affected higher areas. Tourism entrepreneur Mingma G Sherpa said around 3 to 3.5 feet of snow had accumulated around Gokyo, with snowfall also reported around Gorakshep and Dingboche.

Trekking in Khumbu has not been suspended completely, although weather conditions and flight disruptions affected travel on Friday. Helicopters continued to transport tourists after regular flights to Lukla were affected.

The Manaslu Conservation Area Project, citing a special weather bulletin, has warned of possible heavy to very heavy rain through September 27, with risks of landslides, rockfalls, rising river levels and damage to trails and bridges. Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality has also warned of heavy rain in the coming days.

Authorities have urged tourists and trekkers to follow instructions from local administrations, conservation areas, and security agencies and to remain in safe locations until conditions improve.

The snowfall has also affected mountain communities. 

In Jumla, six shepherds who had gone to graze sheep around Panasay Patan (meadow) near Gididaha in ward 4 of Tatopani Rural Municipality were reported missing on Thursday night after heavy snowfall. They were found safe on Friday.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Chiranjibi Dahal, chief of Jumla police, said relatives had received a phone call from the shepherds saying they could not return because of the snowfall. A search and rescue team led by a police sub inspector, along with municipal police and relatives, was deployed.

Snowfall has also affected highland areas of Jajarkot, where horses, mules, sheep and goats are being brought down from grazing areas as temperatures fall.

In Gorkha, snowfall was reported for a short period on Friday morning in Samdo, while temperatures have fallen following the snowfall.