Kathmandu, September 28
Floods since September 25 have caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, drinking water projects and energy facilities.
According to the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure Development, rainfall and floods have washed away approach roads to bridges along the Kaligandaki Corridor at Myagdi Pokharebagar, Baglung Maldhunga and Dedaun in Tanahun-Nawalparasi. A concrete bridge over the Kaligandaki River has also been washed away.
Preliminary details show that several sections of the Kaligandaki Corridor, as well as the Dumre-Besisahar-Chame road section, have suffered extensive damage.
On the Dumre-Besisahar-Chame road, around 40 metres of road at Rambazar-Syange in Lamjung has completely collapsed due to erosion by the Marshyangdi River. The road has been blocked by a landslide carrying rocks at Naso-Khotro in Manang. At Naso-Bagarchhap in Manang, around 50 metres of road has completely collapsed due to erosion by the Marshyangdi River.
Three temporary wooden bridges in Chame, Manang, have been washed away by floods. Floods and landslides have also damaged more than a dozen roads in the district, including the Prithvi Highway, BP Highway and Kanti Lokpath connecting the district with the Kathmandu Valley.
Floods and landslides have completely damaged the Nathigad suspension bridge in Rukum East and the Baglung-Parbat Jaljala-Forse suspension bridge. Partial damage has been reported to the suspension bridges connecting Tanahun’s Ghiring Karuwatar with Bulingtar-Machedi in Nawalpur; Syanja’s Galyang-Belchaur with Ramba Naugaun-Sathibazar in Palpa; Kasiban in Palpa with Atrauli in Tanahun; Parbat with Syanja through Setibeni; and Myagdi’s Beni with Jaljala in Parbat.
Preliminary details show that 31 drinking water projects have been damaged by floods and landslides. According to the ministry, efforts to reopen the roads began on Sunday, and work is underway on various sections today.
According to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, floods have also caused extensive damage to hydropower projects. Preliminary estimates put the damage to hydropower projects at Rs 134.69 billion.
The floods have affected hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 783 megawatts. Of these, the Kaligandaki Hydropower Project is scheduled to resume operation today.
Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamsal held discussions on Sunday with elected representatives from areas affected by damage caused by continuous rainfall. As floods and landslides disrupted daily life across the country, Minister Lamsal discussed the rehabilitation of affected residents and reconstruction of damaged physical infrastructure with local representatives from the affected areas, along with the Prime Minister’s adviser Sudip Dhakal.
The meeting discussed arrangements for temporary housing for families displaced by the floods and the immediate reconstruction of damaged structures.
Minister Lamsal said the government would assess the damage to bridges, roads, suspension bridges, drinking water projects and other infrastructure affected by the floods and rainfall over the past three days, immediately arrange the necessary budget and proceed with reconstruction through the tendering process. He pledged to begin reconstruction work within September.
