Nepali Army Mobilizes 6,000 Personnel to Repair Flood-Damaged Roads

The Nepali Army has launched a large-scale campaign to repair and reopen roads damaged by recent floods and landslides. A total of 6,000 army personnel have been deployed to fix highways, strategically important RCC bridges, and rural roads impacted by heavy rains on September 27 and 28, according to Nepali Army spokesman Brigadier General Gaurav Kumar KC.

In response to weather warnings from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the Army had initially prepared to mobilize 14,000 personnel for disaster response. Immediate search and rescue operations were carried out in the most affected districts, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchwok, Sindhupalchwok, Makawanpur, Sindhuli, Ramechhap, and Panchthar.

Army engineers are leading efforts to repair key transport routes such as the BP, Araniko, Mid-Hills, Tribhuvan, and Prithvi highways, as well as rural roads and bridges connecting districts. A major focus is installing a Bailey bridge over the Sunkoshi River at Khurkot and conducting detailed studies on damaged sections of the BP Highway.

As of Monday evening, traffic on the Kanti Highway resumed after landslide debris was cleared. Brigadier General KC emphasized that after completing the initial search and rescue phase, the Army is now prioritizing reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

The Army’s Disaster Management Directorate, led by a Brigadier General, along with two battalions based in Kathmandu and Chitwan, continues to play a central role in the recovery efforts. Stakeholders have highlighted the need for improved disaster preparedness strategies, noting lessons learned from this year’s flooding and landslides.