The April 25 earthquake and its aftershock damaged the Miteri bridge as well as Phulping bridge near the Nepal-China border.

Officials at the Ministry of Finance (MoF) said they have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to request China to reconstruct the bridge as part of its annual aid to Nepal.

It is learnt that MoFA has already written to the Chinese government about the bridge reconstruction.

The Chinese side, meanwhile, is reported to have agreed to install a Bailey bridge across the border for immediate use.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry officials said China has also constructed a Bailey bridge at Rasuwagadhi, also located on the Nepal-China border.

Road Division Director Madhav Karki said they had requested the Chinese side to reconstruct the road connecting Tatopani even before earthquake. “The technical part of the Miteri Bridge is well-known to Chinese counterparts,” Karki said, adding, “That’s why we need their help in reconstruction.”

Currently, vehicular movement across the quake-hit Miteri bridge has come to a halt, and as a result goods worth millions of rupees have been stranded at Khasa and Ramite Road.

Nepal Himalaya Simapar Banijya Sangh President Bishnu Bahadur Khatri said they have requested the government to initiate efforts to ferry the stranded goods.

He said around 300 containers have been stranded in the area.

Likewise, Chinese officials have repaired the bridges supporting them with iron poles.