DHADING: The Nepali Army (NA) has begun blasting work along the Sital Bazaar section of the Prithvi Highway in Dhading to reopen the road after a portion of the highway was washed away by the Trishuli River during the recent floods.
As immediate reconstruction of a retaining wall at the damaged section was not considered feasible, an engineering team from the Kali Prasad Battalion under the Nepali Army’s Central Command has been mobilised for the operation. According to the project, the army’s technical team is working to remove the severely damaged section and develop a new track to restore vehicular movement.
The floods triggered by the disaster in Rasuwa on August 26 caused extensive damage to the Prithvi Highway at several locations in Dhading. Sections around Sital Bazaar, Krishna Bhir and Parewa Bhir were washed away or severely eroded by the swollen Trishuli River, disrupting one of the country’s major road connections and affecting traffic between Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara.
Technicians said normal repair work would not be sufficient to immediately reopen the highway, particularly at Sital Bazaar, where a substantial portion of the road towards the river has been washed away. Considering the extent of the damage and the geographical risks, authorities have opted to use controlled blasting to prepare a new road structure.
The Prithvi Highway is a vital transport corridor linking Kathmandu with major cities, districts and commercial centres across the country. Prolonged disruption along the highway can leave passenger and freight vehicles stranded, affect the supply of essential goods and force travellers to rely on longer alternative routes.
The floods have caused erosion, landslides and road collapses at several points along the highway. Dozers and other heavy equipment are being deployed to clear damaged sections, while technical assessments are underway to identify safer alternatives and construct temporary routes in high-risk areas.
The Nepali Army, Department of Roads and other technical teams are coordinating efforts to restore the damaged sections as quickly as possible.
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