KATHMANDU: Transportation to Kathmandu from western Nepal has been severely disrupted after a section of the Prithvi Highway at Krishnabhir in Dhading collapsed. The road, considered a lifeline for the federal capital, was damaged when a flood in the Bhote Koshi River on Aug. 26 washed away approximately 65 meters of the highway into the Trishuli River.
Dadhiram Kharel, president of the Western Nepal Bus Entrepreneurs Association, stated that about 400 buses that operate daily from Butwal, Bhairahawa, Kapilvastu, Gulmi, and Arghakhanchi to Kathmandu remain grounded. Association operator Jeevan Kumar Banjade added that when accounting for other western regions, approximately 800 buses are unable to reach the capital. Only a few small vehicles are currently using alternative routes via Hetauda.
Bus parks remain deserted as the highway closure continues with no confirmed timeline for reopening. The disruption has also impacted the tourism sector. Hotel bookings for October and November are being canceled, and tourist numbers in Lumbini have declined significantly.
With road travel restricted, demand for air travel has surged. Passenger numbers at Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa have doubled. Airport officials reported that tickets are now difficult to secure without booking at least three to four days in advance.
