Nepal highways blocked by rain after continuous rainfall since last night, according to an update shared on October 31, 2026 by Minister Sunil Lamsal. The minister said roads on several national highways have been blocked at multiple places, and crews and equipment have been mobilised to clear the blockages and restore traffic. The Department of Roads and its division offices under the Ministry of Infrastructure Development are working to bring the blocked roads back into operation as soon as possible.
Nepal highways blocked by rain: where the closures are reported
The update covers three routes in different parts of the country. Each route faces a different pattern of blockage, but the immediate response is similar: clear mud and debris, check the road, and reopen it when it is safe to do so.
B.P. Highway
On the B.P. Highway, mud and debris have been deposited at Pinthali and other places, blocking the road. Clearance work is under way with the aim of reopening the road. The minister’s update does not give a reopening time, and that timing will depend on how quickly the deposited material can be cleared and the surface checked.
Kanti Highway
On the Kanti Highway, the Makwanpur section remains in operation, but the road is blocked at Chhapeli in Lalitpur and other places. Work to clear the blockage and restore traffic is under way. Readers following progress on this route can also see earlier reporting on Kanti Highway construction progress.
Maldhunga-Beni-Jomsom road
The Maldhunga-Beni-Jomsom road is blocked at Lamakhet, Mahabhir, Kagbeni, Chhusang, Chhoser and other places. Personnel and equipment have been mobilised to clear the blockages. Because rain is continuing, the minister said traffic will be operated after assessing weather and road safety conditions, rather than on a fixed schedule.
Why these three roads matter
The B.P. Highway is an important link between the Kathmandu Valley and the eastern Terai. It carries passengers and goods between the hills and the plains, so a closure can disrupt travel, trade and access to services for communities along the route and beyond it.
The Kanti Highway provides an alternate route between Kathmandu and Hetauda. Alternate routes matter most when a main corridor is disrupted, because they can keep some movement possible and reduce pressure on other roads, although they too can be closed by rain, landslides and debris.
The Maldhunga-Beni-Jomsom road is the gateway road to Mustang. It connects settlements in Myagdi and Mustang, supports local travel and supplies, and serves visitors travelling to the high mountain region. When several places along this road are blocked at the same time, local movement and onward travel become much harder.
Why clearance takes time while rain continues
Clearance work during continuing rain is slow for practical reasons. Fresh rain can wash more mud and debris onto a road that has just been cleared, and wet slopes can remain unstable. Crews often need to work in stages, removing material, checking drains and slopes, and then checking the road surface again. Heavy equipment can also be difficult to move and use on narrow mountain sections, especially where debris is spread across several locations. That is why Nepal highways blocked by rain can remain closed even after work has started, and why officials may wait for a break in the weather before allowing traffic through.
What happens next
The next step is continued clearance, followed by a safety assessment before traffic is restored, particularly on the Maldhunga-Beni-Jomsom road where the update links reopening to weather and road safety conditions. No reopening time is given in the update for any of the three routes, so travellers should look for a fresh official update before setting out and allow extra time for their journeys. A recent example of a road returning to use after a rain blockage is described in this report on the Sandhikhark Gorusinige road reopening. When Nepal highways blocked by rain are reopened, the first priority is safe passage, not speed, and conditions can change again if rain returns.
Source: Minister Sunil Lamsal’s Facebook post, October 31, 2026.