Chhare locals using rickety suspension bridge

By Rajan Rawat,Humla, Jan. 3: Locals of Chhare, situated on the border of Kharpunath and Sarkegad Rural Municipalities, are compelled to cross the Karnali River through a rickety suspension bridge.

The bridge has been in a dilapidated condition after a few wooden planks weakened and collapsed. However, to allow locals and mules to cross it, the damaged sections were covered up with stones.

Jagat Viyal, who has been transporting goods from Syaltadi of Sarkegad Rural Municipality-6, said that although the suspension bridge of Chhare was in a very dilapidated condition, people and mules carrying goods were forced to use it risking their lives. 

He said that the wooden planks on the bridge had decayed, causing some of the nails embedded in the wood to come loose, resulting in substantial holes in the structure. So, crossing the bridge has become problematic for both people and animals. 

It is difficult for pedestrians to walk on the 50-year-old suspension bridge. On top of that, it is even more difficult to move mules carrying up to 70 kg of goods. Most of the nails fixed on wooden planks placed on the 100-metre-long bridge have gone missing, as a result, they move whenever someone walks on it. 

Just a few days ago, one of the mules broke its leg after it got caught in a gap on the bridge. 

Situated on the border of two rural municipalities, the bridge has undergone several repairs in the past, attesting to the insistent need for maintenance. Kharpunath Rural Municipality Chairman Karna Bahadur Rawal has said that the rural municipality is in the process of repairing the bridge. With no alternative available, the pedestrians crossing the Karnali River have to fully on the risky bridge.