Kathmandu – Recent floods have caused severe damage to the Pushpalal (Madhyapahari) Highway, particularly impacting a 12 km stretch of the rising section and devastating infrastructure across a 240 km area. Bridges, culverts, and paved roads have been washed away, significantly disrupting transportation and local livelihoods.
Birendra Kumar Yadav, head of the Pushpalal (Madhyapahari) Highway planning office in Fidim, reported that the section of the road currently at the black sheet stage has been particularly affected by the floods. Heavy rains in the first week of June triggered landslides in dozens of locations, causing extensive damage along the 51 km stretch from Chiwabhanjang to Yangwarak Rural Municipality-4 Darimba of Panchthar.
Among the worst-hit areas are the bridges over the Oyam and Falam rivers, which have been completely swept away. The Silsile river bridge has also suffered significant damage. Chief Yadav confirmed that a total of eight bridges, both large and small, have been damaged by the floods. The road has been buried in many places, while other sections have been submerged or entirely washed away. Yangvarak Rural Municipality-1 Changthapu, Ward No. 2 Falaincha, Ward No. 3 Oyam, and Wards No. 4 and 5 Tharpu have all reported substantial damage.
Ward President of Yangvarak Rural Municipality-3, Bimal Rai, highlighted that Ward No. 3 Oyam has experienced the most severe road damage. In addition to the road infrastructure, water sources and tanks, small hydropower schemes, and irrigation systems have also been destroyed by the floods. Deukumar Yonghang, ward president of Yangwarak-2, noted that hundreds of cardamom plantations, a primary source of income for local residents, have been swept away by landslides.
This is not the first time the region has faced such devastation. Last year, floods swept away the road bridge over the Dobhan River on the Madhyapahari Highway, which has yet to be rebuilt. The road department reported that about 200 km of the highway has been damaged in both the western and eastern sections. In many places, the pillars of bridges under construction have been washed away, while some paved roads have been completely destroyed.
Local authorities are now assessing the full extent of the damage and planning the necessary reconstruction efforts to restore this vital transportation link. The Pushpalal (Madhyapahari) Highway is crucial for connecting remote areas and supporting the local economy, making its restoration a priority for the region.
