The Bhotekoshi river washed away bridges at dozens of locations across northern Nepal on August 26, severing road links between districts, towns and villages. Authorities are now racing to restore those connections by opening new road tracks and installing Bailey bridges.

The floods destroyed 41 motorable bridges between Rasuwa and Chitwan, according to the Department of Roads. Four others were damaged, leaving only 18 of the 63 bridges along the corridor intact.

In Rasuwa, the disaster cut the road connection with Nuwakot. The floods also destroyed the concrete bridge at Furke Khola, severing the direct link between Dhadingbesi, Dhading district headquarters, and the Prithvi Highway.

The Department of Roads has begun clearing and reopening road sections washed away by the floods so that temporary bridges can be installed. Work is underway to reopen the road from Dhunge Bazar towards Betrawati in Nuwakot. Once the route reaches Betrawati, authorities plan to install a Bailey bridge there, said Shubharaj Neupane, deputy director general and spokesperson for the department.

The Nepali Army is separately installing an Acrow bridge at Devighat in Nuwakot.

Only about 1.5 km of track remains to be opened between Dhunge Bazar and Betrawati, Neupane said. 

The Department of Roads has 11 Bailey bridges, each up to 48 metres long. But getting them to the damaged sites is difficult because many stretches of road have themselves been swept away, said Sushil Babu Dhakal, joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport.

The immediate need is for seven Bailey bridges, ranging from 30 to 70 metres, between the Rasuwagadhi border crossing and Syafrubesi, Dhakal said.

“Even where Bailey bridges are available, there is no road to transport them to the sites,” he said. “Work is underway to reopen the tracks damaged by the floods.”

Where only a bridge needs to be replaced, installation is relatively straightforward, he said.

Nepal has also sought temporary bridges from India and China. Both countries have responded positively, with China already sending two 100-metre Bailey bridges to Korala border crossing in Mustang.

A Nepali team has been dispatched to collect the bridges, which weigh about 320 tonnes in total and require 17 trucks to transport them, Dhakal said. China has also sent two technicians to Nepal to assist with the installation.

The bridges currently being transported from China are expected to be considered for installation at the Trishuli crossing in Nuwakot and at Furke Khola on the road to Dhading district headquarters. Delivery is expected to take about a week.

The 100-metre bridges, however, can only be installed where the terrain provides enough space, Dhakal said. “If Furke Khola cannot accommodate one, we will install a different Bailey bridge there.”

India has also offered to supply Bailey bridges, but none has arrived yet. Nepal expects additional bridges from China as well.

“We have made restoring road links on disconnected national highways our priority,” Dhakal said. “The size of the Bailey bridge can be adjusted depending on the location.”

The Bailey bridges supplied by China can carry loads of more than 40 tonnes, according to Dhakal.

China is currently carrying out extensive road construction on its side of the Rasuwagadhi border. Nepal has formally asked Beijing to deploy the same workforce to help rebuild damaged roads on the Nepali side.

The floods caused an estimated Rs30 billion in damage to roads and bridges, according to the Department of Roads. Rebuilding them is expected to cost about Rs50 billion.

Several bridges survived the disaster. In Rasuwa, they include the bridges at Syafrubesi, Sano Bharkhu, Thulo Bharkhu, Thadekhola and the Thadekhola crossing. In Nuwakot, surviving crossings include Sukoure, Dhobikhola, Gumbre, Bire, Gerkhu and Jhangar.

In Dhading, bridges that remain intact include the Trishuli bridge at Bhimdunga, Mahesh Khola and the Trishuli bridge at Benighat. In Chitwan, surviving crossings include the Trishuli bridge at Phishling, the hydropower Bailey bridge at Chumlingtar, and the Muglin arch and suspension bridges.

The finance ministry has said funding will not be a constraint for restoring the damaged infrastructure.

“The budget is available. Once a request is made, we will facilitate the funding,” said Finance Secretary Ghanshyam Upadhyaya.