August 6: Landslides and floods triggered by rainfall since the onset of monsoon this year have caused considerable damages to roads and bridges across the country.

According to the preliminary estimate of the Department of Roads (DoR), the floods and landslides caused damages worth Rs 520 million to roads and bridges.

The DoR stated that 19 highways and other roads have sustained damages worth Rs 265.6 million. Similarly, bridges have sustained damages worth Rs 250 million as of Saturday.

According to the department, floods and landslides during the monsoon cause damages worth billions of rupees to roads and bridges in Nepal every year.

So far, 151 roads and bridges were blocked due to floods and landslides this year. Among them, vehicular movement still remains blocked in three places as of Saturday evening, while one-way traffic has been resumed along 25 roads. The department informed that two-way traffic has been resumed along 123 blocked locations.

The Hewakhola Bridge under the Tamor Corridor, which was damaged due to floods in mid-June, is still not operational. Similarly, roads blocked by landslides in Garjeni of Pyuthan and Khawa of Dolakha still remain blocked, the department said.

Floods and landslides have also damaged culverts, wooden bridges, Bailey bridges, auxiliary structures of RCC bridges, steel bridges and other under-construction and completed bridges.