KATHMANDU, May 7: The BP Highway has been closed again after rising water levels in the Roshi River raised the risk of flooding along the roadway.
According to the Kavre District Police Office, vehicular movement was suspended from around 1:15 pm on Thursday after rainfall began in the Roshi River watershed area.
Police issued an urgent public notice stating that traffic had been halted as a precautionary measure due to the possibility of flooding and further damage to the temporary diversion road.
BP Highway blocked: Flood in Roshi River washes away diversion
The highway had resumed operation earlier in the morning through a makeshift diversion built after previous floods swept away sections of the road. The route, which had remained blocked for the past three days, reopened at 7 am Thursday but was shut again within hours after water levels began rising.
Authorities said even minor flooding in the Roshi River repeatedly damages the temporary diversion and disrupts traffic because the improvised roadway lies directly within the river’s flow path.
Police said the closure was necessary to ensure public safety amid worsening weather conditions. Traffic operations will resume only after the situation improves, with further updates to be issued later.
The BP Highway is one of Nepal’s key road links connecting Kathmandu with eastern Nepal. Hundreds of public and private vehicles use the route daily, but floods, landslides and erosion frequently disrupt transportation, particularly in the Roshi section of Kavre, which is considered one of the highway’s most vulnerable stretches.
Repair works on road sections damaged by last year’s floods are still incomplete, contributing to ongoing disruptions.
The repeated closure has left passengers stranded mid-journey, while long-distance buses, cargo trucks and private vehicles have been halted in areas including Bhakunde in Kavre and Nepalthok in Sindhuli.
Police have urged the public to avoid non-essential travel and advised those who must travel to check road conditions beforehand. Authorities have also requested travelers to contact emergency numbers 100 and 103 for updates and assistance.
