The Prithvi Highway has been completely closed after a gas bullet overturned and leaked gas near Machhedi, close to Galchhi, and a section of the road subsided near Galaundi in Dhading on Friday. The two incidents have disrupted vehicular movement between Kathmandu and other destinations via Dhading, leaving the highway completely blocked.
The Department of Roads, a body under Nepal’s Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, stated that the gas leak is making it difficult for teams to reach Galaundi, near Gajuri, where the road has caved in. District Traffic Police Chief Shishir Thapa confirmed that approximately 100 meters of the road have cracked, with a 20-meter section completely subsided.
Thapa added that the cracks extend to the edge of the road, increasing the risk of further subsidence and landslides. Police have stopped traffic entirely to prevent potential accidents. The Department of Roads indicated that the damaged section at Galaundi could be reopened by cutting into the roadside slope, a process known as back-cutting. However, as it is nighttime, teams will only be deployed to the site after assessing the situation.
Earlier incidents and ongoing challenges
The Prithvi Highway has faced previous issues with landslides and road subsidence, particularly in the Krishna Bhir area of Dhading. On August 30, a section of the road subsided in Krishna Bhir after floods in the Bhotekoshi River system eroded the road’s foundation. While the Department of Roads had reported on September 29 that the BP, Prithvi, Kanti, Tribhuvan, and Arniko highways were all open, traffic was still operating one-way at Krishna Bhir on that day. By October 1, a department spokesperson had stated that there were no problems and vehicles were moving normally.
Following the damage to previously used landslide prevention technology in the Krishna Bhir section due to floods on August 26 and August 30, the government has been exploring alternative solutions. The government has proposed options such as constructing tunnels or viaducts to mitigate the risk of landslides and river erosion in Krishna Bhir.
What happens next
According to the Department of Roads, the damaged section at Galaundi can be reopened through back-cutting. However, due to the night, teams will be deployed only after a thorough assessment of the situation. Technical experts will conduct an on-site inspection and evaluation to determine the actual condition of the road and when it can be fully reopened, according to Thapa.
The Nepal Geotechnical Society has been tasked with studying the construction of an alternative route across the Trishuli River and is expected to submit its report to the government within three months. Meanwhile, the Siddhababa Tunnel Project, located on the Butwal-Pokhara section of the Siddhartha Highway, is nearing completion, with a target to open for traffic by December 1, according to Project Chief Nawraj Bastola.
Uncertainties remain
The exact cause of the gas leak is not yet clear. It is also uncertain how long it will take to repair the subsided section of the road and when it will be fully operational. Furthermore, the timeline for the release of the alternative route study report and the commencement of construction based on its findings remains undefined.
