Bailey bridge planned at flood-damaged Arughat crossing

Preparations are underway to install a Bailey bridge at Arughat, which connects Gorkha and Dhading districts, after flooding in the Budhigandaki river damaged the existing structure.

The materials required for the temporary bridge have been brought from Hetauda, said Binod Pun, chief of the Gorkha Road Project. They were transported through Gorkha Bazar to Arughat on Tuesday.

Traffic has been halted since Sunday after the flood washed away a 22-metre section of the bridge on the Gorkha side. Authorities are preparing to install the Bailey bridge as soon as possible to restore road connectivity.

The bridge will be built in coordination with the Nepali Army and the Gorkha Road Project. An Army technical team has already reached Arughat to begin the work.

“Part of the existing bridge is still intact, but we need to concrete the section before installing the Bailey bridge,” Pun said. “We are preparing to start work as early as today and aim to complete the installation within ten days.”

The Budhigandaki flood on Sunday morning washed away motorable bridges at Arughat and Soti.