Kathmandu, Aug 28: Rasuwa has been completely cut off from the road network after Wednesday’s devastating Bhotekoshi flood washed away 13 bridges and destroyed around 40 kilometres of roads in the district.
According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, the flood damaged 41 bridges across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan, with most of them washed away.
The road linking Betrabati, Mailung, Syafrubesi and Rasuwagadhi has been completely destroyed, cutting off Rasuwa from the rest of the country.
The government has prioritised reopening the Prithvi Highway and reconnecting Rasuwa to the road network. About 13 kilometres of the Prithvi Highway has been buried under mud.
The ministry is preparing to install a Bailey bridge at Betrabati to restore road access to Rasuwa. Until the road reaches Betrabati, vehicles cannot travel to Syafrubesi via Dhunche, according to the ministry.
41 bridges mostly washed away
Department of Roads data show damage stretching from the Miteri Bridge at the Nepal China border to the old suspension bridge at Muglin. The Miteri Bridge was completely washed away, while the Muglin bridge remains intact.
In Rasuwa, Bailey bridges at Timure, Haku, Syafrubesi, Upper Trishuli Hydropower and Mailung were washed away. Concrete bridges at Bhotekoshi, Chilime, Mailung and near the Trishuli 3A dam were also destroyed. The bridge at Khalte on the Rasuwa Nuwakot border and both old and new concrete bridges at Betrabati were washed away.
Several bridges in Nuwakot were also destroyed, including those at Trishuli, Tupche, Simchaur and Devighat. Bridges over the Trishuli and Tadi rivers at Devighat, as well as bridges at Srikhali, Buddhasinghghat, Ratmate and Keureni, were also washed away.
In Dhading, bridges at Baireni Salyantar, Hamlet Resort, Jarebagaincha, Ghatbesi, Kolpu Khola and Malekhu were damaged or destroyed. The bridges at Galchhi, Benighat and Fisling survived.
The Department of Roads said the Bailey bridge at Chumlingtar and the new arch bridge and old suspension bridge at Muglin in Chitwan also survived.
Government has only seven Bailey bridges
The ministry said the government has only seven Bailey bridges in stock, each measuring 50 metres. Given the scale of damage, foreign assistance will be necessary to restore several crossings.
The ministry said India and China have committed to provide Bailey bridges if required. The government has also mobilised 20 pieces of equipment, including 10 government owned machines and 10 provided by the private sector, to clear roads and restore transport.
Reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges and restoring transport connectivity have been made the government’s top priorities.
Login to add a comment