KATHMANDU: Thousands of passengers have been stranded after a dry landslide blocked both directions of the Prithvi Highway at Ghopte Bhir near Kurintar in Chitwan early Monday morning.
The landslide occurred at around 5 AM, bringing traffic on the busy highway to a complete halt. However, clearance work remained slow even four hours after the incident.
According to a post shared by the Muglin Bazar Facebook page, only two machines had been deployed to clear the debris, with both working from one side. No additional machinery had reportedly arrived to clear the landslide towards the Mugling side, leaving the affected stretch largely unchanged.
The post also raised concerns over the lack of preparedness despite the known risk of landslides along this busy highway, particularly during the festive season when traffic volume increases.
The Road Division Office had earlier said that machinery and equipment were being used to remove the debris and estimated that the road could take two to three hours to reopen.
The same location witnessed another dry landslide on Sunday, which also disrupted traffic along the highway.
The repeated incidents and delays in debris clearance have left thousands of travelers stranded; rising concerns over traffic management and emergency preparedness along the Prithvi Highway.
