For people living along the Trishuli river, a repaired footbridge can mean a short walk to school or the health post instead of a long detour. Eighteen such crossings, damaged in the floods, have now reopened. But the news is only half of the recovery story.
The Suspension Bridge Division Office, under the Department of Local Infrastructure Development, says it has repaired and reopened 18 suspension bridges along the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli flood-affected corridor. It reported spending approximately Rs 55 million on the work. Which bridges are back
The reopened crossings link communities across Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan. The office listed three among its major repair projects:
- Pimaltar-Jagarama, connecting Belkotgadhi-7 in Nuwakot with Tarkeshwar-2
- Foresetar, connecting Belkotgadhi-5 in Nuwakot with Galchhi-1 in Dhading
- Jiling, connecting Belkotgadhi-8 with Bidur Municipality-3 in Nuwakot
Others include Keureni Gehate, Kolpu Kallerighat, Malekhu, Kurintar (Lewatar) and Fishling. The last two connect Gorkha with Chitwan.
A different emergency in northern Gorkha
The 18 repairs should not be mixed up with a newer disaster. On October 11, a Budhi Gandaki flood struck northern Gorkha, and it is a separate, ongoing emergency. It is not a sign that the repaired bridges have failed.
Floodwater washed away footbridges and damaged roads and trails in Dharche Rural Municipality and the Machhakhola–Kerauja area. The loss of five bridges there affected around 1,000 people on both sides of the river.
In Chumnubri Rural Municipality, the trail between Filim and Jagat is a major break in the Manaslu trekking route.It contributed stranded trekkers and destroyed trails.
At Arughat, on the Gorkha–Dhading connection, floodwater swept away a 22-metre section of a motorable bridge.
Signs of progress elsewhere
There is also some good news. On October 11, a 73-metre Bailey bridge over the Phalakhu River restored a direct road link between Rasuwa and Nuwakot after about six weeks. On October 14, a temporary timber deck at Chame let jeeps and motorcycles travel towards Upper Manang again. Heavier vehicles are still barred there.
These cases show why recovery has to be measured in three ways: pedestrian bridges, motorable roads and full transport services. A footbridge can reopen while the road behind it stays closed.
