Mechi Highway closed to traffic at night

By Prem Adhikari, Pashupatinagar (Ilam), Oct.30: Vehicle operation has been forbidden on the Mechi Highway at night.

The District Administration Office, Ilam, has banned vehicle operations from 7 PM on Thursday to 6 AM on Friday.

Ilam Assistant Chief District Officer Bholanath Guragain said that traffic operations have been banned at night on the Mechi Highway based on the weather forecast of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA)to reduce the risk of flooding and landslides due to the possibility of heavy rains due to cyclone Montha.

Various places, including the Maikhola (Rajduwali) road section of the Mechi Highway, are at risk following the floods and landslides of September 4.

The floods and landslides of October 4 killed 39 people in Ilam. 336 houses were completely damaged, and 828 houses were partially damaged.

All areas are on high alert because of the possibility of recurrence of landslides as the land is shaken by floods and landslides.

Maijogmai Rural Municipality in Ilam has closed schools for two days today and tomorrow.

Chairperson of  Maijogmai Rural Municipality, Kush Bahadur Thebe, said that the Rural Municipality has closed the school for the safety of children as the risk remains.

It has been raining heavily in most parts of Ilam since morning.