Kali Gandaki Flood Sweeps Away Bridge Linking Syangja and Gulmi

A major road bridge over the Kali Gandaki River linking Syangja and Gulmi districts has been swept away by floodwaters following four days of continuous rainfall, cutting an important transport connection between the two districts.

The bridge connected Mirmi in Kaligandaki Rural Municipality-7 of Syangja with Harmichaur in Kaligandaki Rural Municipality-1 of Gulmi. It was washed away at around 6 a.m. on Sunday after the swollen river first damaged the structure before eventually carrying it away.

The collapse has disrupted road and transport services between Syangja and Gulmi. The route was also used by vehicles travelling from the Syangja side towards Gulmi and onward towards Butwal, making the bridge an important link beyond the two neighbouring districts.

An old bridge under pressure

The bridge was constructed in the mid-1990s during the development of the Kali Gandaki “A” Hydropower Project. Reports put its length at around 50 metres and say it was built with assistance from the Italian government.

However, the bridge had been showing signs of deterioration for years.

A report published earlier this month noted that the structure had remained in a weakened condition for more than a decade. River erosion around its pillars had raised concerns about the bridge’s safety, while local residents and vehicle operators had repeatedly called for a replacement.

Earlier reporting had also described the bridge as being in a severely deteriorated state, with commuters concerned that continued use could become dangerous. The structure had reportedly undergone repairs in the past, but calls for a stronger replacement bridge had continued.

The flood has now turned those long-standing concerns into a complete loss of the crossing.

Important route through the Kaligandaki region

The Mirmi-Harmichaur crossing was more than a local connection. Vehicles travelling between parts of Syangja and Gulmi used the bridge, including traffic heading towards Purtighat and Baglung.

Its location also places it within the wider network of the Kaligandaki Corridor, a major road route through western Nepal.

The Department of Roads is currently carrying out multiple road-upgrading and bridge projects along the Kaligandaki Corridor, including sections around Mirmi, Harmichaur and further north towards Baglung.

The loss of the bridge therefore creates another disruption along a transport corridor that has already faced concerns over ageing and vulnerable bridges.

In July, a report on the Baglung-Gulmi section of the Kaligandaki Corridor found that several older bridges remained in poor condition, with authorities identifying the need for additional permanent bridges along the route.

Heavy rain raises wider flood concerns

The bridge collapse comes during a period of intense rainfall and rising water levels across the Kali Gandaki basin.

The Kali Gandaki “A” Hydropower Project recently stopped electricity generation after the river’s flow increased following several days of rain. The project’s three dam gates at Mirmi were opened as water levels rose.

Other infrastructure along the river has also been affected by the latest weather.

In Nawalparasi East, flood erosion damaged the approach to a motorable bridge connecting Nawalpur and Tanahun, bringing traffic and pedestrian movement to a halt on that route.

Authorities have also been warning about increasing flood risks along settlements beside the Kali Gandaki. Earlier this week, concerns were raised about sudden flooding and landslide-related hazards affecting communities along the river, particularly in the Baglung section.

Transport disruption after the collapse

With the Mirmi-Harmichaur bridge gone, people and vehicles that previously relied on the crossing will have to use alternative routes, potentially increasing travel distances and affecting the movement of goods and passengers.

For communities along the corridor, the disruption could also affect access to markets, services and neighbouring districts while authorities assess the damage and determine how the crossing can be restored.

The immediate priority will be assessing the riverbanks and remaining infrastructure, while a longer-term solution is likely to require a new bridge rather than another temporary repair to the ageing structure.

For now, the swollen Kali Gandaki has completely removed a crossing that had served the region for roughly three decades.