KATHMANDU: The road connection to Dhadingbesi, the district headquarters of Dhading, has been severed for 16 days after floodwaters from the Trishuli River, originating from the Bhote Kosi in Rasuwa, destroyed the Phurkekhola bridge.
The 118-meter steel plate girder bridge, constructed in 1999, served as a vital link to the Prithvi Highway and the busy Malekhu market. While the bridge has been washed away, the nearby Shahid Gate remains intact. However, structures along the riverbank are at risk due to ongoing soil erosion.
Commuters are currently relying on alternative routes. Small vehicles and cargo trucks are being diverted through Mastar and Gorkha. One alternative route connects the Prithvi Highway to Dhadingbesi via Mastar, Keureni, Pipaltar, and Parewatar. For heavier cargo vehicles, a longer route via Muglin, Anbukhaireni, Gorkha, Arughat, and Salyantar is in use. Additionally, travelers moving between Dhadingbesi and Kathmandu can use the Sonaulabazar-Phosretar-Kalleritar-Galchhi road. These alternative paths remain challenging due to muddy and unpaved sections.
