Road subsides at Krishna Bhir, traffic operating one-way

By Murari Adhikari,Dhading, Oct. 4: A portion of the Prithvi Highway at Krishna Bhir in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality of Dhading has caved in and traffic is being allowed one-way.

After continuous rainfall, around 30 metres of the road has caved in. Although the Prithvi Highway and Tribhuvan Rajpath were reopened for two-way traffic on October 3 after being blocked by the rainfall on September 28 and 29, the road has again been disrupted after the road caved in at Krishna Bhir, said Dhadhing's Chief District Officer Suman Ghimire.

To study the landslide, geologists have visited Krishna Bhir under the coordination of the District Administration Office. They reported that around 200 metres of machinery wall used to shore up the riverbank was washed away by the Trishuli River, which caused the landslide.

As the river's flow gradually eroded the soil, it damaged the road, geologists explained. Historically, this area, known for its landslides, had been stabilised using the Rolfa technique by Bayo Engineering. However, recent rains weakened the structure, leading to the collapse of the roadbed after the wall was washed away.

To prevent further landslides, geologists have suggested reinforcing the area with a machinery wall once the river level drops. Meteorologists have forecasted more rainfall for the coming days, complicating the situation further.

As the alternative routes are also not feasible, the country appears to face significant challenges. To facilitate traffic operations, police have been deployed to the area, said Dilli Narayan Pandey, head of the Gajuri Area Police Office.

On Wednesday, Chief District Officer Ghimire led a team comprising heads of all security agencies and the Road Department to monitor the Krishna Bhir area. 

Following the inspection, Ghimire reported to the federal government about the sensitivity of the issue through the Road Department and the Ministry of Home Affairs.