Prithvi Highway Blocked as Dashain Approaches: Road Collapses in Galchhi, Repair Work Underway
The Prithvi Highway has been completely blocked since Friday evening after a 70-meter-long and 4-meter-wide section of road collapsed at Galchhi-5, Gajuri. With Dashain approaching, travelers are affected, and engineers are working to open at least one lane soon.
Kathmandu — The Prithvi Highway has been completely blocked since Friday evening after the road collapsed at Gajuri Rural Municipality-5, Galchhi. Engineer Rajiv Manandhar of the Nagdhunga-Muglin Road Project (eastern section) informed that a 70-meter-long and 4-meter-wide section of road collapsed five kilometers from Gajuri towards Kathmandu.
He said that since the cliff has cracked up to the wall and the road needs to be opened immediately, back-cutting has been started using five excavators, two loaders, and six tippers.
He mentioned that because there is a branch road to the village above the highway, it is not possible to cut the entire cliff. "We plan to open it by evening, at least one-way. Since there is a branch road, we are working to preserve it as well. Initially, we will try to open one lane and possibly two-way by tomorrow," he said.
With the Dashain festival approaching, travelers have been affected by the highway blockage. Work to open the road is ongoing and transportation is expected to resume soon.