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A dry landslide that occurred at Bimire Bhanjyang in Madhyanepal Municipality-10 along the Mid Hill Highway this morning has completely disrupted the road. 

Police said that there is no situation right now to remove the debris with the landslide continuing. 

Vehicles to and from Pokhara are being operated via the alternative routes of Kaure, Bangre and Chautara of Thansing Danda after the road disruption. 

Police Inspector at the Area Police Office, Bhorletar, Yam Narayan Aryal, informed that it may take time to clear the landslide debris. 

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development of Sudurpaschim Province has constructed 355 kilometers of roads over the past year. According to data released by the office of Minister Surendra Bahadur Pal, the total includes blacktopped, gravel, and earthen roads completed during the fiscal year 2024/25.

Despite limited resources and manpower, the ministry also completed six road bridges, 85 multi-year plans, and 26.83 kilometers of embankments, which have helped conserve 37.5 hectares of land. The ministry has also finalized the Regional Road Network Master Plan, which outlines the development of 70 provincial highways, 119 auxiliary roads, and 190 roads serving special purposes.

In the drinking water sector, the ministry emphasized major improvements. A total of 841 intakes, 516 water ponds, 2,133 kilometers of pipelines, and four deep tube wells were installed, providing water to 11,939 households. So far, 173 water supply projects have been completed, benefitting 83,585 people with basic water services and 19,287 with medium-level services.

In partnership with the federal and local governments, the ministry is advancing the “Drinking Water Governance and Infrastructure Support Project,” with an estimated investment of Rs 13.38bn. A cost-sharing agreement has been signed with Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality, and Bardagoria, Joshipur, and Janaki rural municipalities.

In the energy and irrigation sector, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the Upper Surnayagad and Naugad Hydroelectric Projects have been prepared. The new irrigation initiatives will irrigate 1,682 hectares of land, while repairs to older systems have ensured irrigation for an additional 13,947 hectares. Additionally, 32 new deep tube wells have been installed.

To support underprivileged communities, the ministry constructed 110 public housing units, 10 playgrounds, three parks, two covered halls, and six government buildings. Furthermore, the second amendment draft of the Sudurpaschim Province Vehicle and Transportation Management Regulations 2025 has been approved. Revenue from the transportation office alone has reached Rs 1.71bn.

There is a possibility of heavy rainfall at one or two places in the hilly areas of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces today. 

Likewise, moderate rainfall is likely to take place at some places in the hilly and Tarai areas of Koshi and Lumbini Provinces and at a few places in the hilly and tarai areas of the rest of the provinces, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. 

The weather will be generally cloudy in the hilly areas of the country including Koshi Province and Lumbini Provinces and partly cloudy in the rest of the country today. 

Later tonight, the weather will remain generally cloudy throughout the country. 

There is a possibility of moderate rainfall at some places in the hilly and Tarai areas of Koshi and Lumbini Provinces including Madhes and at a few places in the hilly and Tarai areas of the rest of the provinces. 

There is also a possibility of heavy rainfall at one or two places in the hilly areas of Koshi Province.

Although the monsoon is influencing the country, the effect of the water vapor-rich air has been somewhat weaker as of today, adds the Department.

The federal government is preparing to transfer responsibility for the construction and maintenance of several roads and bridges to provincial governments. At present, both the Department of Roads under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport and provincial government agencies have been involved in parallel repair and construction work. This has often led to overlapping responsibilities and inefficiencies in road maintenance. 

The Department of Roads is currently taking care of 80 national highways and an additional 3,078 kilometers of feeder roads. As per the plan, the department will continue handling national highways, while the responsibility for feeder and provincial roads will gradually shift to the respective provinces. Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Devendra Dahal, discussed the matter with ministers and secretaries of all seven provincial governments earlier this week. He said the division of responsibilities between federal agencies and agencies of provincial governments was felt as the demand for the construction and maintenance of multi-lane roads rises at the province levels. 

The necessity was also felt as budget allocations for the Road Board Nepal for road maintenance has been declining in recent years. For example, the board has been allocated only Rs 2.88bn for the current fiscal year even though it had sought an allocation of Rs 10.03bn. In 2013, the ministry was tasked with maintenance of 21 national highways and 209 feeder roads. The list was revised to a total of 80 roads including national highways and some strategic feeder roads. Now the ministry is preparing to hand over roads not included in this list as well as other roads and bridges built under the Local Roads Bridge Program to provincial governments.

Three provincial governments—Koshi, Bagmati and Sudurpashchim—have already published official notices listing 1,588 kilometers of provincial highways under their jurisdiction. They are expected to resume responsibility for maintenance of these roads within the current fiscal year. According to the Department of Roads, Koshi, Madhesh, and Bagmati Provinces have 452 km, 613 km, and 808 km of provincial highways and feeder roads, respectively. Gandaki has 310 km, Lumbini 418 km, Karnali 150 km, and Sudurpashchim 328 km of such roads.