Mahakali River Swells, Four-Wheel Vehicle Banned on Banbasa Bridge Kanchanpur

The movement of four-wheel vehicles has been prohibited on the concrete Banbasa bridge connecting Nepal and India after water levels rose dangerously in the Mahakali River.

The District Administration Office in Kanchanpur announced the restriction following increased water flow at Gadachowki in Bhimdatta Municipality-11. On [date equivalent to 2082/04/19 BS] at 8 AM, the river’s flow reached 109,980 cusecs, prompting safety concerns about the bridge’s stability.”The four-wheel vehicle movement has been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure,” stated officials from the Kanchanpur administration.

The vital cross-border bridge remains open only for two-wheelers and pedestrians under strict monitoring.Local authorities continue to monitor the river situation closely, with disaster response teams on high alert. Meteorologists attribute the rising water levels to heavy rainfall in upstream catchment areas.While the bridge closure has caused some disruption to cross-border trade, essential goods are being transported through alternative arrangements. Officials will review the restriction once water levels return to normal.

Note: The Banbasa bridge serves as a crucial trade and transit route between Nepal’s Sudurpaschim Province and India’s Uttarakhand state.