Situation Overview
A powerful 7.8 M earthquake struck Nepal on 25 April, approximately 81km from the capital Kathmandu in an area between the capital and the city of Pokhara.
Following initial assessments, the Government has extended the most affected areas to include Makawanpur and Sindhuli districts, in addition to Bhaktapur, Dhading, Dolakha, Gorkha, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Lamjung, Rasuwa, Ramechhap, Nuwakot, and Sindulpalchowk.
Relief efforts continue to focus on reaching a greater number of areas, in particular the remote and hard-to-reach areas where many of the poorest and most affected remain.
Access to some remote villages remains a key challenge and some can only be accessed by helicopter.
Most major roads in the country are open. Road access to heavily affected Village Development Committees (VDCs) is open via the following routes:
o Gorkha: The road from Gorkha District Headquarters to Arughat (Arupokhari VDC) is operational (distance 43 km). The road from Arughat to Soti Khola (Lapu VDC) is also now open.
o Northern Nuwakot / Dhading: The gravel road from Trisuli / Bidur (Nuwakot district headquarters) to Kimtang VDC is in good condition and passable for heavy trucks. From Kimtang VDC, heavily affected VDCs of northern Dhading, Satyadevi and Darkha, are accessible on foot. The distance from Trisuli to Kimtang VDC is 35 km. Kathmandu-Trisuli is 85 km by paved road in good condition.
o Dolakha: the main road via Khadichaur, Sindhupalchowk, Mude, Charikot and Mainapokhari to Jiri is open.
- The following closures are reported:
o Sindhupalchok: Araniko highway between Bahrabise and Tatopani.
o Sindhupalchok: the road between Kathmandu and Melamchi is obstructed by landslide at Tipeni Bazar, 9 km before Melamchi.
o Dolakha: Charikot to Lamabagar VDC.
o Bhaktapur: Roads inside the main city are obstructed due to debris but are likely to be cleared by evening of 3 May.