KATHMANDU, Sept 1: The Naubise-Malekhu road section of the Prithvi Highway has been eroded at three places after the Rasuwa flood damaged the bottom of the highway.
The most damage has been caused at Krishnabhir, 23 kilometers from Muglin towards Kathmandu. According to Engineer Sachendra Mishra, information officer of the Nagdhunga-Muglin Road Project West Section, nearly 200 meters of road have been eroded at Krishnabhir.
The side of the road has also been eroded at around 50 meters at Sheetal Bazaar, three kilometers from Malekhu towards Muglin. A 100-meter stretch of road has also been eroded at Parewabhir, one kilometer from Malekhu Bridge towards Kathmandu.
Landslides block Prithvi Highway at two places in Tanahun
The Chief Divisional Engineer of this road section, Sajana Adhikari, informed that the Trishuli River is currently eroding at Krishnabhir and other places. The flood, along with Gegran, has washed away the retaining wall installed on the river bank at Krishnabhir. The water flow is currently causing damage. Adhikari said the water level on the river is rising and falling successively, and that it is eroding the bottom of the road. “Although it cannot damage the rocky areas, the river is eroding the weak portion,” Adhikari said.
This year, the Trishuli has changed its course and focused on the road wall on the left side, severely affecting the lifeline highway of the capital. According to the experts, Krishnabhir is not in a position to repair it immediately. “However, preparations are underway to cut the wall in Sheetal Bazaar and open the road.”
Rajiv Manandhar, engineer of the eastern section of the project, added that the river bank of the road has collapsed at Parewabhir. After about 100 meters of the road collapsed, authorities have stopped non-essential vehicles plying through the section to prevent further damage and risk.
Since it is not possible to work from below, preparations have been made to cut some of the wall and level it down and operate the road by the evening. Preparations are being made to move the electricity poles on the wall in that place, according to the experts
Although two places in that section can be repaired, since Krishnabhir cannot be operated immediately, a study has been started to operate an alternative road from Gorkha. Among the roads on that side, suitable roads are being repaired immediately and an alternative road is being built. About 14,000 vehicles had been operating daily on that road before the flood hit the highway.
