BHAKTAPUR, Sept 25: Authorities have closed the Bode-Mulpani road to vehicles after a motorable bridge over the Manohara River began sinking amid continuous rainfall.
Bhaktapur Chief District Officer Binod Kumar Khadka said authorities restricted vehicular movement on the road as a safety precaution. The bridge connects Bhaktapur and Kathmandu districts in the northeastern outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley.
CDO Khadka, Bhaktapur police chief Superintendent of Police Surya Bahadur Khadka and other officials inspected the affected areas after the water levels in the Hanumante and Manohara rivers began rising.
Flooded Manohara River damages property worth Rs 7.5 million
Continuous rainfall has swollen rivers and streams across Bhaktapur, disrupting movement in several areas. The swollen Godawari stream flooded nearby areas, making travel difficult along the Dekocha-Changunarayan road section through Pikhel.
Police also evacuated people living in temporary shelters along the Hanumante riverbank on Friday. Authorities moved residents from Balkot, Kaushaltar, Lokanthali and Sagbari to Adarsha Janapremi School in Kaushaltar for safety.
Meanwhile, authorities have reopened the Nala-Banepa road after a rainfall-triggered landslide blocked traffic from Friday morning.
A dozer cleared the landslide debris following an inspection and direction from authorities, allowing stranded vehicles to resume their journey.
