Misinformation or miscommunication? The debate over PM Oli's Facebook post!

Biratnagar, October 7 — Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced on his Facebook status at 9:50 PM on Sunday that the movement of vehicles has resumed after repairing the Bailey bridge over the Hewa Khola, which was obstructed due to flooding on the Mechi Highway connecting Panchthar and Taplejung.

In the same status, he informed that the installation of a Bailey bridge over the Sunkoshi River, connecting Sindhuli and Ramechhap on the BP Highway, has also begun, expressing gratitude to the active personnel of the Nepali Army involved in the bridge construction.

"Following the repair of the Bailey bridge over the Hewa Khola on the Mechi Highway, connecting Panchthar and Taplejung, movement has resumed, and the installation of a Bailey bridge over the Sunkoshi River on the BP Highway, connecting Sindhuli and Ramechhap, has started. Thank you to the Nepali Army personnel actively involved in the bridge construction!" stated his post.

After 11 minutes, he edited the status, removing the mention of the Bailey bridge over the Hewa Khola and stating that "the bridge over the Hewa Khola has been repaired, and movement has resumed." Twenty-three minutes later, he again updated the status to note that "the installation of a Bailey bridge over the Hewa Khola connecting Panchthar and Taplejung, and the installation of a Bailey bridge over the Sunkoshi River connecting Sindhuli and Ramechhap on the BP Highway has started."

Five minutes later, he amended the status again, writing, "The installation of a Bailey bridge over the Hewa Khola, which was obstructed by flooding on the Mechi Highway connecting Panchthar and Taplejung, and the installation of a Bailey bridge over the Sunkoshi River connecting Sindhuli and Ramechhap on the BP Highway has started. Thank you to the Nepali Army personnel actively involved in bridge construction."

Opposition parties seized upon the topic of Prime Minister Oli's posts and corrections. Indra Angbo, leader of the Maoist Centre's Koshi Province parliamentary party, criticized Oli's status on Facebook with a screenshot, stating, "Who gives the Prime Minister such misinformation...? The Bailey bridge over the Hewa Khola has not been repaired for vehicular movement; only a temporary bridge has been made. It takes months to place a Bailey bridge. It is not possible to repair a bridge that has already been washed away."

He further wrote, "It is expected that transportation will resume tomorrow by placing a hume pipe in the Hewa Khola. It is wrong to provide the Prime Minister with false information and for a person in such a dignified position to spread misinformation like this."

Angbo expressed disagreement with Prime Minister Oli's status, which sparked reactions from Maoist supporters and critics of Oli. Many continue to criticize Oli, sharing screenshots of his original status.

What happened in the Hewa Khola?

Due to continuous rainfall from September 27 to 29, the Bailey bridge over the Hewa Khola, which connects Panchthar and Taplejung on the Mechi Highway, was washed away. Last year, in June, flooding had already washed away the road bridge on that highway. The Bailey bridge that was placed afterward was also swept away this time, severing contact between Taplejung and Panchthar, as informed by Bishnu Prasad Koirala, the chief district officer of Panchthar.

According to him, a temporary bridge has now been constructed allowing two-wheeled vehicles to cross. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has written about this temporary bridge, he mentioned.

"The Prime Minister has mentioned the construction of a temporary bridge. It is currently operational, and motorcycles are moving across it. We are working at war footing to ensure that small four-wheeled vehicles can also move across the site where the Bailey bridge was washed away. We will finish it within the next 24 hours," Chief District Officer Koirala said. "I am currently at the Hewa Khola. Ten 120 MM, sixteen small pipes, and three 90 MM hume pipes are being transported to the site."

Once small vehicles begin to move, work will start to ensure that larger vehicles can also cross from Majhitaar on the Tamor corridor. He mentioned that preparations are being made to provide immediate relief to families affected by the floods and landslides, and that searches are ongoing for four missing persons.