Kathmandu, 20 June: Early Thursday morning, the District Police Office of Nawalparasi East issued a public notice for drivers, passengers, and the general public.
The notice stated:
“Due to the rising water level in the Binayi stream along the Narayanghat–Butwal road section, the diversion has been damaged. Continuous rainfall has made the Dumkibas–Daunne road section slippery, causing vehicles to get stuck and slip, making travel difficult. Therefore, please avoid traveling on this road section and use alternative routes instead.”
The police also provided information in the notice about alternative routes that can be used instead of the Narayanghat–Butwal road section.
Vehicles traveling west from the east should take the Narayanghat–Muglin–Pokhara–Syangja–Butwal route. Similarly, vehicles from Kathmandu heading west can also take the Muglin–Pokhara–Syangja–Butwal route. For vehicles coming from the west and heading east, the route through Butwal–Syangja–Pokhara–Muglin to their destination can be used. For small vehicles, depending on the situation, travel can be done via the Gaindakot–Pipaldanda road section under the Kaligandaki Corridor.
Due to heavy rainfall since Wednesday night, the Daunne–Dumkibas section of the Butwal–Narayanghat road became slippery, and floods in rivers with broken bridges swept away the diversions. Therefore, the police issued a notice early Thursday morning advising people not to travel on that road section.
Despite the police issuing a notice, a line of vehicles had already formed on the road since Wednesday night.
From the diversion at the Binayi stream in Dumkibas to the Arun stream, thousands of vehicles were lined up on both sides of the road.
The road was even more chaotic not just east of Dumkibas but also toward Daunne. From Bardaghat to Dumkibas, vehicles were stuck in muddy sections that had turned into one-way passages at about half a dozen locations.
Although police had stopped westbound vehicles coming from the east at places like Chormara, Kawasoti, and Rajhar, many drivers defied the orders and continued driving ahead.
The police were working all day to help free the vehicles stuck on the road. Freight trucks were crossing the diversion built over the Binayi stream.
Around 10 PM on Thursday night, a passenger bus (registration number: Ba 1 Kha 4085) heading from Kathmandu to Bardiya moved forward toward the diversion despite police requesting it not to. While a freight truck ahead of it crossed the diversion without trouble, the passenger bus failed to do so and got stuck in the stream.
According to Madhu Nepal, the spokesperson of the District Police Office, East Nawalparasi, by the time the bus attempted to cross, the stream had already swollen significantly. As the bus got stuck, the water level kept rising — increasing by about one foot per minute. There were 38 passengers on board. After three to four hours of effort using a crane, the police successfully rescued all passengers safely. After the rescue, the bus was swept away by the floodwaters nearly 500 meters downstream.
Now, the main question being raised is: Will the driver who recklessly drove the passenger bus into the flood just 12 hours after the police issued a warning be held accountable? Public attention is increasingly focused on this issue.
We had asked Chief District Officer Bhavishwar Pandey and Deputy Superintendent of Police Nepal of Nawalparasi whether the driver would be punished, and if so, what kind of action would be taken.
Chief District Officer Pandey explained that the local administration does not have the authority to stop vehicles on national highways, and therefore discussions are ongoing regarding whether or not action can be taken against the driver.
“The local administration cannot stop traffic on national highways — it can only make drivers and passengers aware and alert. Although a notice was issued on Thursday, vehicles were not being physically stopped. In such situations, drivers and passengers themselves must act responsibly,” he said.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Nepal also stated that the driver had been made aware and cautioned.
He said, “As of 2:30 in the morning, the rescued passengers and the driver, who were stuck in the flood, are still in Dumkibas. The police have cautioned them, and discussions are ongoing on what kind of action should be recommended against the driver.”
Deputy Superintendent of Police Nepal expressed concern that despite the police warning drivers about the dangers ahead, some drivers ignore the warnings, leading to such unfortunate incidents.
“Fortunately, all the passengers in the bus stuck in the flood were rescued safely. But with the way the water level was rising, a serious incident could have occurred. It’s crucial for both drivers and passengers to be aware and cautious during events like floods and landslides,” he said.
He added that discussions are underway regarding possible action against the driver who defied police instructions and moved the bus forward despite warnings.
He said, “The tendency of drivers to push vehicles through as soon as they see even a small clear space is creating problems. It is essential to stop this behavior.”
Although there is a road from Dumkibas to Hongsi Gate for passenger buses and small vehicles, drivers are unwilling to use it, saying it is 16 kilometers longer.
Currently, the most dangerous section of the Butwal–Narayanghat road is from Bardaghat to the Binayi stream.
After the concrete bridge over the Binayi stream was damaged by an overloaded Indian truck last December, a diversion was constructed on the northern side to allow vehicle movement. The bus in question was stuck in the flood while attempting to cross that same diversion.
Although the old bridge collapsed, the new bridge being constructed as part of the road expansion project has not yet been completed.
Chief District Officer Pandey urged freight vehicles to use alternative border crossings throughout the rainy season and requested passenger buses and small vehicles to use alternative routes.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Nepal reported that on Friday morning, thousands of vehicles were still lined up in both directions from the Dumkibas diversion to the Arun stream.
The road is not only chaotic east of Dumkibas but also towards Daunne. From Bardaghat to Dumkibas, about half a dozen sections of the road have become one-way, and even those sections frequently cause vehicles to get stuck in the mud.
While the police are responsible for ensuring smooth traffic on the reopened road, they also expressed frustration that they have had to take on the task of filling potholes as well.
