Authorities halted the movement of four-wheelers over the Sharada Barrage Bridge on the Nepal-India border on Monday after the Mahakali river crossed the danger mark due to continued rainfall.

According to the Kanchanpur District Police Office, water discharge in the river reached 161,032 cusecs at 11am on Monday. Deputy Superintendent of Police Sagar Bohora, the district police spokesperson, said that vehicular movement across the bridge is restricted once the flow exceeds 100,000 cusecs, owing to the old bridge structure.

“The bridge is not considered safe for heavy vehicles beyond this threshold,” he said. Authorities have allowed motorcycles and pedestrians to cross, but four-wheelers have been barred as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Forecasting Division has forecast more rainfall across the country. According to its bulletin issued at 6am on Monday, moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning is expected in many places across all seven provinces.

One or two areas in Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces will likely experience heavy rainfall during the day. Rainfall is expected to intensify overnight, with the possibility of heavy to very heavy rain in several parts of Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces.

The division attributed the current conditions to an active monsoon system. It said the monsoon trough has shifted slightly north of its average position and now lies close to Nepal’s Tarai region, increasing the risk of more rain-induced disruptions.