Government agencies in Nepal have begun efforts to repair and reopen major transportation routes after recent monsoon floods destroyed dozens of bridges in the central part of the country. Nepal’s Department of Roads announced that it is also seeking international assistance to install temporary structures to restore connectivity.
According to a statement from the Department of Roads, 41 bridges were rendered unusable by floodwaters and landslides along the corridor between the Rasuwa and Chitwan districts. The damage has disrupted commercial and private travel, affecting supply chains for goods and isolating some communities. The affected areas include critical road networks that connect the capital, Kathmandu, with other parts of the country as well as international borders.
“Our immediate priority is to clear debris and establish temporary passages where possible to resume the movement of people and essential supplies,” said Arjun Jung Thapa, Director-General of the Department of Roads. “Permanent reconstruction will be a long-term process, but for now, we are focused on immediate relief and restoring basic access.”
Officials are concentrating on assessing the full extent of the damage to highways and local roads. Engineering and maintenance crews have been deployed to the most affected areas to conduct structural evaluations and begin clearing operations. In some locations where roads have been completely washed away, teams are working to create temporary bypasses and diversions.
To address the loss of numerous bridges, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport confirmed that the government has formally requested assistance from China and India. The requests are specifically for prefabricated, temporary Bailey bridges, which can be assembled quickly to span damaged crossings until permanent structures can be rebuilt.
A spokesperson for the ministry stated that discussions with representatives from both neighboring countries are underway. The government has not yet provided a timeline for the potential arrival or installation of these temporary bridges.
Monsoon-related flooding and landslides are a recurring challenge in Nepal, frequently causing significant damage to the nation’s infrastructure due to its mountainous terrain. Reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority regularly document the impact of the annual rainy season on roads, bridges, and communities across the country. Government efforts following such events typically involve both immediate repair work and the development of longer-term reconstruction plans.
