Skip to main content

Nepalese bridge issues

In Nepal a 159m long suspension bridge spanning the Trishuli River has collapsed, killing two and injuring 17 while five people are posted as missing. Meanwhile in neighbouring India, an old wooden bridge spanning the Rangit River has collapsed killing 32, injuring 70 and leaving 35 missing. A significant portion of those killed, injured or missing are Nepali speaking tea workers.
May 4, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
In Nepal a 159m long suspension bridge spanning the Trishuli River has collapsed, killing two and injuring 17 while five people are posted as missing. Meanwhile in neighbouring India, an old wooden bridge spanning the Rangit River has collapsed killing 32, injuring 70 and leaving 35 missing. A significant portion of those killed, injured or missing are Nepali speaking tea workers.

The suspension bridge over the Trishuli River was built 18 years ago and connected Bhumlichowk in Gorkha district and Fishling of Chitwan district, close to the Prithivi Highway.

The Indian bridge that collapsed was considerably older and may have dated back before India gained its independence according to sources. The structure was located some 80km from Darjeeling and connected Bijanbari with Chungthung providing a key route for the local tea industry.

On a more positive note, Nepal’s Ministry for Physical Planning and Works has inaugurated work to a bridge over Kamala River. This bridge will connect the Siraha and Dhanusa district headquarters and forms part of the Postal Highway network.

The pre-stressed girder bridge will measure 450m long by 7.5m wide and will be completed within the end of 2014, reducing the current journey distance from Siraha – Janakpur. The country’s new Postal Highways will boost development of the Terai Region and are being prioritised. Work to a further 53 bridges will also form part of the Postal Highway system and some funding will be provided by India.

Related Content

  • Bridge repairs for Nepal
    April 30, 2012
    Repair work is underway in Nepal on a key bridge located on the Ratna Highway. The 117m bridge over the Bheri River links Surkhet and Dailekh was built in 1988 by a Chinese construction company and now required urgent repair. Work being carried out includes the removal of corrosion from truss sections using sand blasting and repainting to provide long term protection. Another major part of the repair involves raising the Eastern end of the bridge, which has damaged bolts and subsided due to overweight vehic
  • Nepal's upgraded links
    May 25, 2012
    The Indian Government is providing assistance for road construction work in neighbouring Nepal. This assistance is for building the Kulekhani – Kathmandu road section, which will be widened and upgraded with an asphalt surface. The road will be widened to 7.5m and the work is being carried out by Indian Contractor Golden Goods. Meanwhile asphalt surfacing work is has now been completed on Nepal’s Hetauda-Bhimphedi-Kulekhani-Pharphing-Chaimale road Section. Surfacing work is in hand on the remaining 21km sec
  • World Bank funding for Nepalese Bridge
    July 2, 2013
    Nepal’s Ministry for Physical Infrastructure and Transport has inaugurated a programme for bridge upgrades and maintenance across the country. This is being funded by the World Bank while the programme will also benefit from new bridge management software developed by the department of roads. This software will be able to locate the type of bridge, location, date of completion, span, crossing, load capacity, condition and load restriction. The World Bank has provided a grant assistance of US$147.6 million f
  • Nepal plans major infrastructure development
    July 21, 2015
    Nepal’s Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Management has been allocated US$524.48 million in the 2015-16 budget for developing infrastructure projects in the country. The country is faced with an additional challenge at present of repairing the links wrecked by the powerful earthquake that caused extensive damage all across Nepal. A budget of $309.8 million is being used for the Postal Highway, while a budget of $189.4 million has been set for the Mid-Hill highway. Some $97.1 million is bein