Kanchanpur, September 1, 2026 — Traffic through the Gaddachauki border crossing in Kanchanpur has been disrupted since Tuesday morning after rising water levels in the Mahakali River led to restrictions on four-wheeled vehicles crossing into India.
According to the Area Police Office in Gaddachauki, four-wheeled vehicles traveling between Nepal and India have been stopped from crossing the Sharada Barrage, also known as the Banbasa Bridge, due to the increased river flow.
Senior Deputy Inspector of Police Jiban Gurung, chief of the Area Police Office, Gaddachauki, said the Mahakali River was flowing at around 112,000 cusecs.
“Once the water flow in the Mahakali exceeds 100,000 cusecs, the Indian side halts the movement of four-wheeled vehicles over the Banbasa Bridge for safety reasons,” Gurung said. He added that continued rainfall in Kanchanpur and the surrounding hilly districts could cause the river flow to rise further.
The Banbasa Bridge, which is more than a century old and has deteriorated over time, is subject to restrictions on heavy vehicles during the monsoon whenever the Mahakali’s water level rises.
