Recent floods and landslides extensively damaged major lifeline highways and roads whereas 55 bridges were damaged in Nepal. The road department continues to repair the roads and traffic police are suggesting alternative routes for vehicles to avoid damaged roads. Supporting Nepal in the reconstruction efforts, the Government of India sent the first consignment of components for ten prefabricated steel bridges to the Government of Nepal. These bridges, requested by the Government of Nepal, will help in Nepal’s reconstruction efforts to restore the road connectivity that was disrupted due to recent floods and landslides. The bridges costing more than NPR 38 crores are being provided as a grant by the Government of India.
The consignment was handed over by Shri Devi Sahai Meena, Consul General of India in Birgunj, to the Chief District Officer of Parsa Dinesh Sagar Bhusal. The remaining consignments of prefabricated steel bridges will be delivered to the Government of Nepal in the coming days.
The Nepal government has planned to bring 20 Bailey bridges from India. This would ensure alternative crossing in the places where bridges are damaged and swept away by floods and landslides. The country witnessed nonstop rainfall on September 27-28 that claimed the lives of over 245 people and damaged huge property, prompting the government to declare 14 districts as disaster crisis zones for three months so that relief distribution and rehabilitation works would be forwarded smoothly.
