Ilam, Nepal — The Ilam–Rajdhuwa section of the Mechi Highway has been completely blocked due to continuous rainfall since Thursday.
According to Chief District Officer Sunita Nepal, several portions of the road have collapsed, leading authorities to suspend all vehicular movement along the section until further notice.
The Tilkeni–Simlagolai–Shilpur road, which had been used as an alternative route to the Mechi Highway, has also been blocked by landslides and heavy rainfall.
Similarly, the Mechi Corridor (Kechana–Kanchenjunga Road) has remained closed since Ashoj 18 (October 4) after the concrete bridge over the Maikhola River at Belase collapsed.
With all major routes between Ilam and Jhapa districts blocked, road connectivity between the two regions has been completely cut off.
Meanwhile, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) have warned that the cyclone “Montha” developing over the Bay of Bengal is likely to affect Koshi Province, including Ilam, from Kartik 13 to 15 (October 30 to November 1).
About the Author
