Floods have damaged an under-construction bridge over Mewa river in Yangwarak Rural Municipality-2 of Panchthar, causing fresh disruption to the Mid-Hill Highway project.

The flood deepened the riverbed, leading to the collapse of bridge supports along with damage to other structures. The 40-metre bridge on the Mid-Hill Highway was being rebuilt after an earlier washout caused by floods on September 28, 2024.

According to project chief Sanjay Mishra at the Mid-Hill Highway Phikkal Project Office, around 90 percent of the work had been completed when the structure was again damaged.

The bridge, contracted to Saroj Construction Service at a cost of Rs77.6 million, had its concrete slab cast on March 16.

The absence of the bridge has continued to affect residents of northern areas, including Chyangthapu and Phalaicha, as well as people from the Sadewa and Kalika river areas of Taplejung.

In a separate incident, a 35-metre bridge under construction over the Naruwa river in Taplejung was also damaged by floods. The project, costing Rs74.7 million, was being built by Sanjiv Construction Service and was also in its final phase.