Flood destroys Manang: Excavator goes to open road

MANANG: AUGUST 1 – Manang has been at a standstill since the last week of May. Vehicles cannot come after the bridge and road have been washed away by the floods. People are walking up and down. Government bodies have been working for a month and a half to reopen Manang.

The Dumre-Beshisahar-Chame road project has opened roads in landslide-prone areas and constructed new roads in areas where new tracks have to be opened. The excavators and loaders sent in the first week of June have now reached the Manang border. Project Chief Amit Shrestha informed that 35 km out of 65 km road has been completed.

According to him, Kharkhare Bhir and Ram Bazar areas are at high risk. And here the road is closed again and again. Two excavators have been deployed around the 24 hours in these two places. ‘There are three excavators and one loader in the field. It is working day and night, ‘he said.

Although the project has been working since last June, the target has not been achieved due to rains. “It is raining every day. The mountain road will be closed soon after it is opened, ‘he said. He is confident that the work will be speeded up after Mardi is cut off. Shrestha informed that the vehicle would reach Chame within two weeks if the weather was good.

In some places, the road is not even marked. He says that a new track will be opened for that. According to him, he has suggested opening a new track from Mardi to Bagarchhap. He is of the opinion that a study should be started for the change of track. There is a need to re-route in Danakyu and Dharapani areas as well.

The road project has proposed to build 21 motorable bridges from Dumre to Chame. Although the plan was included in last year’s red book, it has not been implemented. There is no concrete bridge on this road section. In some rivers, a bailey bridge is built, while in others, vehicles cross a wooden bridge. “The wooden bridge is in operation. We have asked for a concrete bridge. It has also been included in the Red Book, ‘Shrestha said,’ Now we have to study and build a new bridge. ‘

The district-based government body has also conducted an on-site study and sent the report to the federal and state governments. Chief District Officer Bishnu Prasad Lamichhane said that more than Rs 1 billion has been lost due to the current floods. At present, the connection between the two areas has been cut off due to the collapse of the suspension bridge connecting Manang district headquarters to Upper Manang. The motorable bridge is also at high risk. According to the report of the district government team, it is suggested to relocate the settlements in Taal and Sirantal areas. 53 houses have been completely damaged and more than a thousand people have been displaced.