The onset of the monsoon season has heightened the risk of floods and landslides in the Himalayan district of Manang. Continuous rainfall has increased the water flow in the Timang River, particularly affecting Chame Rural Municipality-1, where the rising waters have swept away a wooden bridge. The Dumre-Besisahar-Chame road has been completely obstructed since Monday due to the flooding, instilling fear among local residents.
Manang is recognized as a high-risk area for floods and landslides. Consequently, the local population lives in constant fear of such natural disasters. Being a popular tourist destination with year-round visitors, the disruption caused by these events severely impacts both residents and tourists.
Efforts to reopen the road blocked by the swollen Timang River have been challenging. The District Administration Office has issued a notice advising against the use of the road until the water level decreases.
In addition to road blockages, floods and landslides disrupt essential services such as electricity and drinking water in Manang. Communication with the district headquarters, Chame, is frequently interrupted, and the obstruction of roads leads to shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and other necessities. Transporting patients to hospitals becomes particularly difficult.
“Monsoon always brings risks and hardships,” said Binod Gurung, a local tourism entrepreneur. According to Gurung, transporting food during the rainy season is especially challenging. He emphasized the need to reconstruct the bridge promptly, recalling the significant damage suffered in 2078 BS (2021 AD) and the difficulties of transporting goods via Mustang, crossing the highest point of the Annapurna Circuit, Thorong La Pass (5416 meters).
Floods and landslides continuously plague the upper regions of Manang, hindering the transportation of food supplies. “The flood in the Timang River has washed away the wooden bridge. We have no access to upper Manang now. If the road remains blocked for a long time, it will be challenging to deliver essential goods,” said Furwa Lama of Chame-5.
Manang falls within the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). Chief District Officer Subashkumar Lamichhane remarked on the risky nature of traveling in Manang, noting that floods in smaller rivers and streams often sever road networks. Local residents heavily rely on solar energy due to these disruptions.
CDO Lamichhane highlighted the difficulty of repairing the bridge in a timely manner once it has been washed away. The entry point to Manang, Tal Village, is particularly vulnerable to flooding.
Concrete Bridge Washed Away
The Timang River flood has also washed away a concrete motorable bridge on the Besisahar-Chame road. Information Officer Kiran Pokharel from the Dumre-Besisahar-Chame Road Project Office reported that the lower section of the Timang area lost its concrete bridge last night. Previously, on Tuesday evening, the wooden bridge in Timang had been washed away. The project office confirmed that the large waterfall bridge in the lower Timang area was swept away, while stones and debris damaged the small waterfall bridge. The concrete bridge, constructed two years ago to replace the wooden one, was a significant investment, costing NPR 1,994,000 for the large waterfall slab culvert bridge and NPR 1,185,000 for the small waterfall culvert bridge.
