Flood erodes temporary diversion for fourth time along Binayi River

By Bomlal Giri,Nawalpur, June 13: Vehicular movement that has been disrupted along the Narayangadh–Butwal section of the East-West Highway after a flood triggered by heavy rainfall of Wednesday night submerged a temporary diversion built in the Binayi River on Thursday morning resumed after seven hours.

The highway blocked at 8:45 in the morning came into operation at 3:40 in the afternoon, said Distrcit Police Office Nawalpur. 

Deputy Superintendent of Police Madhu Nepal, the district’s information officer, confirmed that the sudden surge in river flow submerged the diversion, rendering the highway impassable. 

Passenger and small vehicles are being rerouted via the alternative route through Hongshi Gate and Sardi, while heavy freight vehicles have been halted on both ends, awaiting clearance.

The diversion was constructed after a 245-meter-long bridge over the Binayi River at Dumkibas collapsed on January 10, 2025, after failing to bear the pressure of heavy Indian freight trucks. Since then, traffic has relied on the temporary structure, which has now been washed away for the fourth time.

A permanent concrete bridge is under construction and is expected to become operational by July 1. According to Shiva Khanal, Information Officer at the Narayangadh–Butwal Road Project, vehicular movement can resume 28 days after the final span was cast, which was completed on June 5.