How Feasible Is It to Quickly Install Bailey Bridges in the Flood-Damaged Areas?

Summary: The devastating flood on 10th Bhadra washed away at least 35 bridges from Rasuwa Gadhi to Muglin, according to the Department of Roads. Rasuwa still lacks smooth connectivity to the national road network, and the department estimates it could take at least a month to install temporary bailey bridges. The department is preparing to install bailey bridges on the main highway at Devisthan, Trishuli Bazaar, and Betrawati. Kathmandu, 14th Bhadra.

The catastrophic flood on 10th Bhadra completely washed away at least 35 bridges from Miteri Bridge in Rasuwa Gadhi to Muglin. Rasuwa district, the most severely affected, remains practically disconnected from the national road network. Although technically alternative routes have opened, traffic remains difficult. Helicopter-aided relief and rescue operations face challenges reaching remote parts of Rasuwa, causing additional hardship for locals due to the lack of road connectivity. The government is under strong pressure to reopen road traffic quickly. However, this goal is not immediately achievable. According to Dr. Vijay Jaisi, Director General of the Department of Roads, the flood destroyed both the structural foundations and the location of the old bridges, preventing their immediate restoration. Currently, the situation on these washed-out bridge sites remains inaccessible for assessment, so reopening roads by installing bailey bridges immediately is not feasible. However, local governments continue to demand rapid road network restoration. Harikrishna Devkota, Chair of Rasuwa Kalika Rural Municipality, conveyed the urgent need to reconnect the district during a telephone conversation today with National Independent Party Chair Ravi Lamichhane. Jagat Bahadur Gurung, Chairperson of Nuwakot Belkotgadhi Rural Municipality, also called for quick operation of alternative roads.

How Long Does It Take to Install Bailey Bridges? Dr. Jaisi noted that if the foundations at both ends of a bridge remain intact, a bailey bridge can be installed within 15 days. The Nepali Army has previously succeeded in installing bailey bridges within two weeks. However, if new foundations need to be constructed, an additional 15 days are required, extending the total installation time to at least one month, he explained.

Plans to Install Bailey Bridges at Only Three Key Locations: The Department of Roads does not plan to install bailey bridges at all damaged sites immediately. Priority is given to reopening the national highway quickly. Accordingly, bailey bridges will be installed at only three crucial points. Elsewhere, alternative routes will be opened and traffic resumed. The alternate road connecting Dhading Bensi has already been revived. The department plans to install a bailey bridge over the old Tadi Khola bridge site in Devisthan across the Trishuli River. Another bridge will be placed where the old bridge stands in Trishuli Bazaar, and the third will be set up at Betrawati connecting Nuwakot and Rasuwa. These three bailey bridges will restore the main highway’s operation. The remaining bridges will undergo technical study and be reconstructed permanently as needed, the official said.

Existing Bailey Bridges Are Insufficient; Support Requested from India and China: The Nepal government currently possesses only 11 bailey bridges, each 50 meters long. However, the bank erosion caused by the Trishuli River requires longer bridges. The government has requested assistance from India and China for more bailey bridges. The Ministry of Finance’s records indicate a request for 30 bailey bridges from China. Typically, bailey bridges are used for limited locations and short-term traffic operations. This time, the extensive riverbank erosion necessitates longer-span bailey bridges.

Which Bridges Were Washed Away by the Flood from Miteri Bridge to Muglin? According to the Department of Roads data, bridges from Miteri Bridge at the Nepal-China border up to the old suspension bridge in Muglin were damaged. Miteri Bridge was completely washed away, but Muglin Bridge survived. In Rasuwa, two bailey bridges at Timure were washed away, along with the pacca (concrete) bridge over Bhote Koshi, and a pacca bridge in Chilime was also lost. Both the hydropower bailey bridge and the pacca bridge at Syafrubesi in Rasuwa were destroyed by the flood. The Haku First and Second bailey bridges in Rasuwa were also washed away. Bailey bridges over the Upper Trishuli Hydropower and Maylung were fully lost, including the pacca bridges near the Trishuli-3A dam and Dam 2. The Bhote Koshi River bridge at the Rasuwa-Nuwakot border at Khalte was fully washed away. Both old and new pacca bridges at Betrawati were destroyed by the flood. In Nuwakot, the pacca bridge at Trishuli Tuphche was completely lost, as were both old and new pacca bridges in Trishuli Bazaar. The pacca bridge over the Trishuli River at Simchaur was fully washed away. The suspension and pacca bridges at Devisthan, including both old and new pacca bridges over Tadi Khola, were also destroyed. Bridges over the Trishuli River at Shrikhali, Budhasingghat, Ratmatti, and Keuren were washed away. The Trishuli bridge near Galchi in Dhading was spared, but the bridge on the Baiyreni-Salyantar road below Galchi was washed away. The pacca bridge near Hamlet Resort was damaged. The new and old bridges over Kolpu Khola at Jarebagaicha and Ghatbesi in Dhading were swept away. The Furke Khola bridge at Malekhu also collapsed. Bridges across the Trishuli River at Benighat and Fishing survived. Additionally, the bailey bridge at Chumlingtar in Chitwan, plus both the new arch bridge and the old suspension bridge at Muglin, remained safe, according to the Department of Roads.