Nepal Highway Gridlock Traps Dozens of Buses for a Day and a Half
A major backup on the Tribhuvan Highway’s Palung–Hetauda segment held up more than 100 long-distance buses and thousands of travelers for as long as 36 hours. The delay followed road damage, vehicle breakdowns, and stalled trucks on a narrow mountain route that is carrying more traffic than it was built for. Problems on the Prithvi Highway near Krishnabhir have pushed more vehicles onto this corridor, worsening congestion.
The Palung–Hetauda segment of the Tribhuvan Highway links Hetauda with Kathmandu via Naubise. This narrow, winding mountain route now carries more traffic than it was built for. Damage to the roadway, mechanical failures and trucks unable to move on sharp curves combined to halt vehicles, with no practical alternative nearby.
More than 100 long-haul buses and several thousand travelers were caught, some for roughly 36 hours. Many were stuck in forested, thinly populated areas where food, water and toilets were hard to find. Traders in reachable villages sold supplies, while some passengers walked between vehicles seeking information.
The prolonged standstill could disrupt work, study and family plans for thousands of passengers, including students, migrant workers and families. Bus operators and local traders may face lost income and higher uncertainty, while communities along the route could see sudden demand for food, water and basic help. If key highways remain unreliable, pressure may shift onto alternative mountain roads, potentially affecting travel safety, journey times and access to essential services.