Author: space4knews

Officials have reported that the Prithvi Highway, which connects Kathmandu, has been blocked due to incessant rain that began on Thursday. The road at Krishna Bhir was completely obstructed by flooding of the Bhote Koshi-Trishuli rivers, and this highway was only reopened on Ashoj 1 after repairs. However, local representatives have reported new partial collapses along the route due to recent rains.

Basnet, chairperson of Ward No. 7, Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality in Dhading, stated, “Half of the gabion mesh supporting the new track fell away, and a landslide containing rocks that occurred yesterday evening was cleared by a dozer this morning. However, repair work was halted as the risk increased after the lower part also collapsed. The soil there continues to slide continuously. If the rain persists, the road will deteriorate further, requiring more time to repair. As of this morning, no new landslides have fallen on the new track, but there are new landslides nearby, and the risk will increase if it rains throughout the day.”

The Prithvi Highway is a crucial route for the Kathmandu Valley. Last month’s devastating floods had washed away the road next to the Trishuli River at Krishna Bhir. The highway was reopened only after creating an alternative route, 18 days later.

Government agencies have continuously urged locals to avoid long journeys unless necessary and to exercise extreme caution due to the forecast of heavy rain from Friday through Sunday. Vehicle movement has also been halted at critical points in various high-risk districts.

Currently, many regions across the country are experiencing light to moderate rainfall, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division. The division reported that heavy rainfall is occurring in the eastern parts of Koshi, Bagmati, Lumbini, and Gandaki provinces. “The current weather system is centered around Chhattisgarh and adjacent areas in India, affecting the entire country,” meteorologist Rojan Lamichhane stated. “This impact may persist in the western region of Nepal until Sunday.” In the past 24 hours, Arjhale in Palpa recorded the highest rainfall at 187 millimeters, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. Meteorologist Binod Pokharel noted that the potential for heavy rain has shifted from some districts in Bagmati Province toward the Far-Western region. He also mentioned that there is a reduced likelihood of extremely heavy rainfall in Kathmandu from Friday afternoon onward.

Regarding river conditions, the Hydrology and Water Resources Research Center reported that the Hanumante River in Jagati, Bhaktapur, the Trishuli River in Dhunche, Nuwakot, and the Rosi River in Panauti, Kavrepalanchok, have reached alert water levels. Measurements taken on Friday morning indicated that the flow of most major rivers remains below alert levels, according to the Meteorological Division. It is estimated that the water levels of major rivers will experience normal fluctuations from Friday through Sunday. The Flood Forecasting Division indicated that the flow of several small rivers in Sunsari, Morang, Dhankuta, and surrounding districts will increase significantly on Friday, presenting a moderate risk of sudden flooding.

According to meteorologist Lamichhane of the Meteorological Division, gradual improvement in weather conditions is expected starting Monday. Shanti Mahat, spokesperson for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, stated that relevant stakeholders have been urged to remain vigilant as river water levels are expected to remain elevated until Sunday. “Previously, it was anticipated that the system would weaken by Sunday, but it now appears that the impact will persist until then, so we have advised continued caution through Sunday,” she said.

Several highways have been blocked due to landslides triggered by continuous rainfall over the past two days, the Disaster Response Coordination and Institutional Strengthening Section reported. According to Deputy Secretary Phanindra Paudel of the section, the Prithvi Highway, the primary route to Kathmandu, is also blocked due to landslides. Other affected highways include the BP Highway, Kantipath, and Kalupande Highway. Considering the potential hazards, some local administrations have issued separate notices restricting nighttime travel. Due to poor visibility caused by adverse weather, certain domestic flights have been canceled, service providers reported. Similarly, following directives from the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports to close schools as necessary, most schools observed holidays on Friday. Taking potential risks into account, the ministry has also instructed postponement of examinations scheduled up to Ashwin 11.

Due to the influence of a low-pressure system developing over the Bay of Bengal, various parts of Nepal are experiencing rainfall. Continuous rainfall has triggered another landslide in the Krishnabhir area along the Prithvi Highway in Dhading district. Officials reported that some portions of the road have been washed away by the landslide.

Earlier last month, a major flood in the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers caused significant damage to the Krishnabhir road section, halting vehicular movement for several weeks. Since then, an alternative route was constructed by cutting above the original road in Krishnabhir, and this detour has been operational since September 17.

Just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s high-level visit to the United States, Beijing welcomed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, signaling China’s influence over Tehran. The upcoming talks between Trump and Xi are expected to prioritize the issue of the Iran conflict. Since the outbreak of the war seven months ago, China has maintained a consistent stance, condemning US and Israeli attacks and criticizing Washington’s sanctions against Tehran. Beijing has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to navigation. With vast oil reserves and a diverse energy portfolio, China appears to be managing the impacts of the Iran war reasonably well so far. However, according to Andre Giselle, a China and Middle East expert at the University of Exeter, China can sustain this for the long term, but the economic cost will be high. He notes China must balance its interests in seeing the war end with its geopolitical priorities.

“China does not want this conflict to damage its relationship with the US but will not ignore Iran’s fundamental interests and demands,” says Giselle. “China and Iran’s views largely align, and they believe aggressive actions by the US and Iran have fueled and sustained this conflict.” According to Hamidreza Azizi of the International Crisis Group, China’s energy consumption has been impacted by the war. Oil accounts for one-fifth of China’s total energy consumption, with 70 percent of that imported from Iran, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s 2025 report. While China imports 1.4 million barrels of oil daily, oil from Iran constituted only 12 percent of China’s total crude oil imports last year. In the Middle East, China obtains 42 percent of its oil from the region, a smaller share compared to other Gulf countries.

When Iran and other Gulf countries could not supply sufficient oil, China supplemented from exporters such as Russia and Brazil. However, natural gas supplies from these areas present challenges for China. In response to the energy crisis caused by the Iran war, China has turned to its oil reserves. Although the exact volume is confidential, estimates suggest reserves between 1 to 1.4 million barrels in 2025. “If China stored 1.4 million barrels of oil, it could sustain Middle Eastern supply interruptions for 254 days in 2025,” explained energy expert Erika Dunn from Columbia University. China’s reserves are believed to last longer since Middle Eastern supplies have continued despite the conflict. However, Reuters Asia commodities columnist Clyde Russell reported that China utilized its oil reserves in three of the past four months. “Beijing wants to quickly halt reserve usage to ensure sufficient fuel availability when needed,” Dunn added.

The Iran-backed Houthi group’s increased attacks in Saudi Arabia to strengthen control over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait could further destabilize global energy markets. The economic fallout from the Iran war poses a risk of escalating into a worldwide crisis, severely impacting China’s export-dependent economy. China’s economic growth has been slowing since 2019. As the world’s second-largest economy, China faces recessionary pressures in its domestic market, trade tensions with Western countries, and rising debt concerns at local government levels. Last year, total exports accounted for 32.7 percent of China’s GDP growth—the highest since 1997—according to the Washington, DC-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies. With weak domestic demand, exports have become the primary engine of economic growth.

During a period of sanctions, maritime blockades, and stalled peace talks, the Trump administration has increased economic pressure on Tehran. Washington has warned companies, banks, and countries supporting Iran’s economy of further penalties. Although many Chinese entities have become sanction targets, Washington has so far refrained from targeting China’s major banks, signaling caution amid ongoing US-China trade tensions. Beijing has not disclosed whether it will assist Washington’s unilateral sanctions campaign. It opposes what it calls “unilateral illegal sanctions” and emphasizes international legal cooperation with Iran. As the blockade continues, land-based trade routes between China and Iran remain the only viable option, which is expected to be costlier. Mohammad Gayidi, an Iran expert at George Washington University, notes that imports via land routes are significantly less than those by sea. While China is willing to mitigate the effects of economic sanctions, it has not demonstrated the capability or willingness to break the maritime blockade. Doing so would lead to a different type of conflict with Washington, a price China’s leadership seems unwilling to pay. Instead, China has clearly chosen a “diplomatic resolution to end the war,” which could help restrain Iran from escalating the conflict, according to Giselle. “This would facilitate the initial stages of negotiation and enable President Trump to claim some broad concessions to bring Iran to the peace table.”China will insist on securing concrete achievements for its partner, including the removal of sanctions, access to frozen assets, and cessation of military strikes.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah, also known as ‘Balen,’ addressed the United Nations General Assembly, highlighting the devastating impact of the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods, greenhouse gas emissions, and issues related to climate justice. Speaking at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday local time, he described the catastrophic flooding in Bhotekoshi-Trishuli not only as a local tragedy but also as a warning to the entire world. “Did we truly heed that warning?” questioned Prime Minister Shah.

Recalling that nearly three years ago the UN Secretary-General issued a climate crisis warning from Nepal, Shah expressed disappointment that global leaders have not taken the matter seriously. Reflecting on the devastating floods Nepal faced last month, he thanked the international community for their support. Regarding greenhouse gas emissions, he noted, “Nepal’s greenhouse gas emissions are minimal on a global scale, yet Pakistan has been suffering heavily from the effects of climate change.”

Prime Minister Shah emphasized that the countries most affected by climate change cannot cope with its consequences through small-scale aid or loans alone and called for adequate grants and support. “We seek grant-based assistance. Financial mechanisms like the Loss and Damage Fund and the Global Environment Facility remain insufficient,” he stated.

In light of the climate crisis, he proposed the establishment of a joint mechanism under the leadership of Nepal, India, and China. “Through this mechanism, we can share satellite data and technical expertise and conduct joint monitoring of high-risk glacial lakes,” he suggested. Shah also mentioned his plan to return home on October 10.

After the government recently extended the deadline for the expressway construction, initially started nearly two decades ago, by three years until Chaitra 2086 (mid-April 2030), concerns have surfaced regarding the delays in the project. While the Nepalese Army claims challenges in highway construction, infrastructure experts argue that the extension stems from inadequate monitoring and detailed inspection, yet even with the extension, the project is unlikely to be completed on time.

According to the Nepalese Army, which is responsible for construction management, the physical progress of the project has reached only 50.02 percent so far. Though work continues vigorously in most areas, sources from the military reveal that land acquisition and compensation agreements remain unresolved, especially at the Kathmandu departure point. Discussions are underway to identify alternative departure points to accelerate the Kathmandu-Tarai/Madhesh Expressway, which has completed only half its progress after nearly a decade.

Army spokesperson Rajaram Basnet stated that obstacles such as land acquisition issues and disputes over the starting point have posed significant challenges to completing the work on schedule. He noted, “The COVID-19 pandemic and flooding in Ashwin 2081 (September-October 2024) have caused additional delays.” Basnet also mentioned that at the time of the expressway’s inauguration, Tulsi Sitoula, former Secretary of the Physical Infrastructure Ministry, did not question the army’s work, which contributed to the project’s untimely completion.

The estimated construction cost of the project stands at NPR 211.93 billion, with the Nepalese Army reporting that NPR 94.22 billion has been spent up to the end of Bhadra (mid-September 2024). To resolve existing challenges, Arjun Jung Thapa, a member of the National Planning Commission, clarified that the outdated initial departure point has become irrelevant since the Outer Ring Road Plan remains stalled. He remarked, “We are now considering extending the route up to the dry port area and then connecting further to Balkhu via an additional four-lane road.”