Field Report : 10 bridges connecting Sindhuli to Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga districts damaged

KAMALAMI (SINDHULI), OCTOBER 1 : The nonstop rainfall from last Thursday to Saturday caused the Sunkoshi River to flood, damaging a total of 10 bridges that connected Sindhuli to the Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga districts.

Two motorable bridges and eight suspension bridges were affected by the flooded Sunkoshi River, which fully disrupted transportation to the hilly districts. The motorable bridge linking Khairenighat of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-1 in Sindhuli to Khandadevi Rural Municipality-1 in Ramechhap was destroyed by the raging river, according to Ram Kumar Shrestha, chairman of Sunkoshi-1.

As the river swept away the bridge, users of the mid-hill highway have been severely affected, particularly those in Khandadevi Rural Municipality, Sunaptai Rural Municipality, and Doramba Rural Municipality.

Vice Chair of Khandadevi Rural Municipality, Rama Ghising, reported that the suspension bridge connecting Sunkoshi-5 to Khandadevi-3 was also pulled down by the flood. Other suspension bridges that collapsed due to the flooding were located at Belghari and Puchhghat.

"With the destruction of the motorable bridge and another suspension bridge connecting Ramechhap to Sindhuli, the education of 35 school students has been hampered. They are deprived of education due to the lack of transportation facilities," Ghising shared.

Furthermore, a motorable bridge and another suspension bridge connecting Khurkot of Sindhuli to Manthali Rural Municipality in Ramechhap were damaged by the swollen Koshi River, directly impacting residents from Ramechhap, Dolakha, Okhaldhunga, and Solukhumbu districts.

Vice Chairman of Golanjor Rural Municipality, Jwala Prasad Neupane, noted that this was a significant loss for people in various hilly districts, including Okhaldhunga.

Manoj Kumar Shrestha, a hotel entrepreneur in Khurkot, stated that the supply of fresh vegetables and fruits from Ramechhap district has ceased due to the lack of transportation, causing hotels to shut down because of road disruptions.

Additionally, suspension bridges linking Phikkal Rural Municipality-4, 2, and 5 in Sindhuli to Okhaldhunga district have been destroyed, resulting in considerable inconvenience. Transportation and supply of essential goods have come to a standstill, according to local representative Raj Baral from Phikkal Rural Municipality. He added that the disruption of goods transportation from Sindhuli to Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga is particularly concerning as the festival season approaches.

Krishna Maya Tolange from Goiri in Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-1 urged all three tiers of government to intensify reconstruction efforts for the roads and bridges damaged by the natural disasters. "The three-day downpour has caused tremendous loss of life and damage to property," she emphasized, highlighting the need for accelerated efforts in relief distribution, repair, and reconstruction.

RSS