KATHMANDU: Around 40 kilometers of the road linking Rasuwa have been completely damaged by the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi River.
The flood has disrupted the Syafrubesi–Rasuwagadhi road section through Betrawati–Mailung. Similarly, around 10 kilometers of the Galchhi–Trishuli road section has been rendered impassable.
Around 13 kilometers of the Prithvi Highway has also been covered with mud and debris. The Department of Roads has prioritized clearing the debris to restore vehicular movement along the highway.
The floods have completely destroyed 41 bridges in key border areas connecting Nepal and China. The government currently has seven Bailey bridges, each with a maximum length of 50 meters. Preparations are underway to install the available bridges after assessing the requirements and technical feasibility at the affected locations.
Meanwhile, the governments of India and China have pledged to provide Bailey bridges immediately for other areas where bridges have been destroyed.
In the first phase, authorities are working on a priority basis to reopen the Prithvi Highway and reconnect Rasuwa with the national road network. Preparations are underway to install a Bailey bridge at Betrawati for this purpose. Until the road to Betrawati is reopened, it will not be possible to reach Syafrubesi via Dhunche.
A total of 20 units of heavy equipment have been mobilized to accelerate road clearance and restoration efforts, including 10 units from government agencies and 10 from the private sector.
The government has said that the reconstruction of damaged roads and bridges and the restoration of transportation services are being carried out on a high-priority basis.
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