KATHMANDU: Flooding along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli River system has washed away four motorable bridges in Dhading, severely disrupting road connectivity across the district.
The collapse of the Furke Khola bridge, a key link between Kathmandu and Dhadingbesi, is expected to make immediate restoration of road transport difficult.
Department of Roads Director General Dr. Bijay Jaisi said a Bailey bridge could not be installed immediately at Furke Khola because the 118-metre steel plate girder bridge and one of its piers were swept away. Available Bailey bridge sections are not long enough to span the river at the site.
Jaisi, who inspected the damaged bridge, said a technical team was conducting detailed measurements and assessing options for reconstruction.
“This was one of our major and critical lifeline bridges. Heavy rain, floods and landslides swept it away. The bridge was 118 metres long, and one of its piers was also washed away,” Jaisi said.
The Department of Roads is studying two options. One involves using the remaining bridge structures to construct a new deck on top of them. The second involves constructing a new bridge connected to the existing structure.
A final decision will be made after the technical assessment determines which option can restore traffic most quickly and safely.
Four bridges washed away
The major flood on Bhadra 10 swept away four important motorable bridges in Dhading. These include the bridge linking Ghatbesi in Gajuri Rural Municipality-6 with Pipaltar-Jaharekhet in Siddhalek Rural Municipality-7; the bridge linking Furke Khola in Gajuri-2 with Parewatar in Siddhalek-6; and the bridge connecting Jahare in Gajuri-6 with Jaharekhet in Siddhalek-7.
The Jintetar–Syaltar bridge linking Gajuri-6 and Gajuri-1 across the Trishuli River was also washed away.
The loss of the bridges has disrupted road access to several settlements, particularly in northern Dhading, which depends on these routes to reach Dhadingbesi and the national highway network.
Only two Trishuli bridges remain
Following the floods, only two motorable bridges across the Trishuli River in Dhading remain operational: the Chhangeshwor bridge connecting Galchhi Rural Municipality-8 and 1, and the Fostar bridge linking Belkotgadhi Municipality with Galchhi-1.
The loss of key bridges could also disrupt supplies of food and daily essentials to northern Dhading. Prolonged disruption could affect residents’ daily lives as well as market access for local agricultural produce.
Alternative roads need upgrading
With major bridges destroyed, authorities face pressure to repair and upgrade alternative roads immediately. Locals have called for improvements to the road linking Parewatar in Siddhalek-6 with Keurenitar in Galchhi-2 and Panchasayatar in Galchhi-4.
The Dhadingbesi–Fostar road also needs to be upgraded as an alternative route. Immediate repairs, gravel work and targeted upgrades could help restore transportation and food supplies to affected areas.
Local governments have begun efforts to improve alternative routes, while coordination among local authorities, the Department of Roads and other agencies will be crucial to keep temporary routes operational and accelerate reconstruction of the destroyed bridges.
