Suspicious Device Found on Kankai River Bridge Rendered Safe, Army Says

A suspicious object discovered early today on the Kankai River bridge, at the boundary between Sivasatakshi and Kankai municipalities in Jhapa, was rendered harmless by the Nepali Army, allowing traffic on the East–West Highway to resume.

Authorities had completely shut the highway as soon as the object was spotted, prompting heightened security measures and stranding hundreds of vehicles and passengers along the route.

A bomb disposal team from the army reached the site and safely deactivated the item, after which the district police confirmed the highway was secure and reopened to traffic.

According to Jhapa District Police Office spokesperson Deputy Superintendent of Police Khagendra Khadka, preliminary investigation has revealed the suspicious object was a **“hoax” — a fake device, not an actual explosive.

Police said the situation is now normal and full traffic movement has resumed on the highway.