Installation of Bailey bridge begins in Hewa River

By Radha Luintel,Phidim, June 21: Bailey bridge installation work has begun on the Hewa River along the Phidim-Taplejung section of the Mechi Highway.  A flash flood triggered by torrential rain on June 17 washed away the concrete bridge bringing vehicular movement to a complete halt. 

Road Division Office, Ilam, began fixing the Bailey bridge on Tuesday. The bridge will connect Phidim Municipaity-4 and Hilihang Rural Municipality-7.   

Necessary logistics and workers have reached the site for the installation of the bridge by Tuesday morning. Chief of the Division Road Office Bidur Pokharel said that 50 staffers have been mobilised to fix the bridge. 

If the weather doesn’t go adverse, the office has planned to complete the work within 15 days, said Pokharel. 

Flood in Koshi increases erosion risk Meanwhile, according to our Sunsari correspondent Sachin Pokharel, the flood in the Koshi River has started eroding the river bank in Sri Lanka sland, which lies between Sunsari and Udayapur districts. 

The eroding of the river bank on the island has been expanding significantly as the water level in the river has increased. Shanti Chadrawati of Baraha-6 of Siwai Tole said that the cutting of the river bank has been expanding and reached up to the human settlement near Siwai Tole. 

Ward Chairman of Belka Municipality-8 Jay Kumar Rai said that the flood has also started eroding the river bank just above the Lahure Khonch, near Belka-8. 

Ward chair Rai said that the erosion of the land area has intensified as the water level has been rising constantly because of the continuous rainfall in the eastern hilly districts for a few days. The river has eroded more than 25 metres of the land area so far. 

According to him, the nearby human settlements will also be affected if erosion continues to expand further at the same pace.

The human settlement of ward-3 of Belka Municipality has been at high risk if the flood entered the village from the erosion place. 

Mayor, Ashok Karki of Belka Municipality said that Simaltar and Dhauri of ward nos. 8 and 9 of Belka, as well as Durga Bandi, Milan Chowk, ABC Tappu, Bharbabe and other villages of ward no. 3 will also be affected if the erosion continues for a few more days.