Hetauda, November 28
A container overturned at the Churiyamai slope along the Makwanpur-Bara border, completely blocking the East-West Highway. The container, bearing license plate Province-2-03-001-K-6780, toppled at Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City-15, disrupting traffic.
The container, carrying mobil oil, sprawled across the road, halting vehicles for over an hour, according to DSP Shyamu Aryal of the Makwanpur District Police Office.
The container was en route from Birgunj to Kathmandu when the accident occurred. The driver, 30-year-old Mahesh Moktan of Manahari Rural Municipality-6, sustained injuries to his right hand and was taken to Hetauda Hospital for treatment, police confirmed.
With no alternative route available due to the container blocking the Churiyamai slope, traffic has come to a standstill. Efforts to clear the road are underway, according to district traffic police.
Historical context of Churiyamai road
The Churiyamai slope was developed as an alternative to the Churiamai Tunnel, built in 1974 by Nepal’s first graduate engineer, Brigadier General Dillijung Thapa. The tunnel, designed for small vehicles travelling from India to Kathmandu, measures 2.5 meters in width, 3 meters in height, and 500 meters in length.
The Churiamai road was carved out through the Chure hills, flanked by steep terrain on either side.
Although a landslide had rendered a 40-meter section of the tunnel unusable for years, the Bagmati Provincial Government recently reconstructed it with plans to promote it as a tourist destination. However, the tunnel has yet to become operational.
