#news #infrastructure #development #Nepal
Heavy rainfall in the aftermath of continuous monsoon showers has caused flooding in the eastern section of the East-West Highway in Asia Highway. The flooding resulted in the collapse of three diversions of the under-construction ‘Asian Highway’ in the Mechungar Municipality area.
According to Sunil Babu Pant, the project chief engineer at the Kankadbhitta-Laukahi Road Project Office (Eastern Section), the flooding caused damage to diversions at Kali Khola in Mechungar, Dhulabari’s Dhukure Khola, and Charali’s ‘Animal Underpass’.
Following the diversions’ collapse, traffic on the East-West Highway was disrupted from this morning. Pant mentioned that repairs have been completed on the diversions of Charali’s ‘Animal Underpass’, Kali Khola, and Dhukure Khola, allowing traffic to resume except for some minor adjustments.
Ramesh Khatri of Kansai Nepal News commented that the repair work on the ‘Animal Underpass’ diversion is progressing well. The construction of a new bridge over Kali Khola and the replacement of the old culvert at Dhukure Khola have been completed. The ‘Animal Underpass’ in the forest area of Charali is being constructed to facilitate the passage of wildlife.
Traffic was being redirected through alternate routes by the traffic police after the East-West Highway was blocked. The authorities aimed to ensure smooth traffic flow by implementing long and short-distance traffic management on auxiliary roads connected to the highway.
Due to the early onset of monsoon this year, the repair work on the diversions was expedited to prevent any hindrances during the anticipated heavy rainfall period. However, the heavy downpour has caused a major waterlogging issue, delaying the completion of the diversions.
Pant assured that maintenance work on the diversions will be carried out to enable smooth traffic flow and create a conducive environment for vehicular movement within the next 15 days. Replacement of the culverts with two lanes on all culverts is also planned for completion soon.
Repair work on the old bridges over Kali Khola and Bhalukhola is expected to take time due to the need for the construction of new bridges at these locations. Pant mentioned the installation of three-tier hume pipes at these locations to strengthen the diversions against potential flood damages.
The Asian Development Bank has invested Rs. 10 billion in support of the infrastructure development along the eastern section of the Asian Highway. The construction contracts have been awarded to Everest Construction Company.
Regarding the recent road improvement efforts, Lokraj Dhakal, Chairman of the Nepal Red Cross Society in Jhapa, highlighted the importance of addressing the flooding issues in the highway area to prevent disasters due to poor road conditions.
Sunil Pant, the project chief at the Kankadbhitta-Laukahi Road Project Office (Eastern Section) in Damak, mentioned that they are prepared to address any issues promptly with the help of rapid response teams in case of any problems arising in the road area due to the monsoon.
Opinion from Ramesh Khatri of Kansai Nepal News: Ramesh Khatri appreciates the swift response and efforts made to repair the diversions on the East-West Highway. However, he emphasizes the need for proactive measures to prevent future disruptions caused by heavy rainfall and flooding in the region.
—
Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: May 31, 2025 7:00 pm
