SATV Kathmandu Oct 08: Floods and landslides induced by the incessant rains since Friday night damaged roads and bridges at over 263 locations across the country. According to the Department of Roads (DoR), the damages could cost more than Rs. 4.63 billion – roads Rs. 4.34 billion and bridges Rs. 281 million.

It informed that since some details are yet to come, the cost of damage could go higher, while the details of the BP Highway are yet to come. 

The floods have washed away roads and bridges, and caused damage to the infrastructure as well as superstructure. Most of the damaged infrastructure’s construction was completed. 

Some of the largest damages have occurred along the Kaligandaki Corridor, the Kanti Highway and the Mechi Highway. The Mechi Highway is damaged at nine locations and Koshi Highway at seven locations. Largest damages have occurred at Dhobidhara-Nepaltar section (Rs. 600 million) and Mai Khola – Rajduwali section (Rs. 268 million) along the Mechi Highway. 

The Mid-Hill Highway and Khandbari-Kimanthanka section of Koshi Highway have also witnessed multiple damages. 

Likewise, the Kanti Highway is washed away at three locations and structural damages happened at four places. 

The Kaligandaki Corridor’s Beni-Jomsom-Korala section is one of the severely affected roads with damages at nine locations where the road is washed away at seven places. Since the road is under-construction, there has been less damage economically but as the infrastructure is completely damaged at various places, it will take some time to make the road ready for travel. 

The damages have also affected the transportation of goods imported from China through the Korala border point which was recently brought into operation following the damage of roads and bridges at Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi border points.  

Similarly, the floods and landslides damaged at least six bridges – over Hewa River, Puwa River, Thade River, Mai River and Jogmai River – along the Mechi Highway. 

A bridge worth Rs. 300 million is damaged over the Mai River at Belase. The DoR said that it needs Rs. 600 million to construct a new 120 m single span bridge at the same location. 

While the Bajradevi Bridge over Mai River could be opened after some maintenance, other bridges need to be rebuilt. According to the preliminary estimates, Rs. 420 million is required for a new permanent 80-metre single span bridge over the Hewa River where the floods washed away the Bailey bridge. Likewise, the Puwa River bridge will need Rs. 250 million, and Jogmai River Rs. 220 million. 

Likewise, damage worth Rs. 120 million at the bridge over the Seti River in Pokhara is also reported.