Pokhara, July 8

Heavy loaded vehicles were stranded after the flooded Bijayapur River swept away a diversion constructed by using hume pipes along Prithivi Highway in Pokhara last night.

The diversion was constructed to connect Ward No 14 and 16 of Pokhara metropolis after the bridge over the river could not bear loads above ten tonnes. According to Superintendent of Police Dan Bahadur Karki of District Police Office, empty tankers and trucks passed over the bridge while heavy trucks were stranded on the road. SP Karki said a team of security personnel were at work, repairing the diversion, since early this morning.

Construction materials procured by Road Division Office, Pokhara, to build a bailey bridge as an alternative to the concrete bridge were also stranded.

Transport services have been hit. Supply of food materials and petroleum products to Pokhara, Parbat, eastern part of Baglung, Myagdi and Mustang districts have been affected due to the road obstruction.

A bridge over Dobilla along another alternative route to the district also cannot withstand heavy loaded vehicles.