Lack of bridge over Puma River causes inconvenience

By Raju Lamichhane,Rukum West, Aug.30: Locals living in Ward Nos. 1 and 2 of Banphiikot Rural Municipality in Rukum West district have been facing difficulties due to the lack of a bridge over the  Puma River. Students of the villages cannot attend their schools regularly during monsoon fearing floods in the river. 

The water level in the river rises during the monsoon season making it difficult to cross the river. However, in winter and dry seasons people can cross it as the water level diminishes. 

Even vehicular movements come to a standstill in monsoon as the water level reaches high above its culvert.  

According to locals, the flooded river sweeps away people as well as vehicles. 

Sita Dahal, a local from Ward No. 2, said that each monsoon, they face inconveniences because of the Puma River. "Sometimes, it sweeps away man and at other times motors. Fearing flood in the rivers, our wards hesitate to go to schools,” she added.

According to Nirmala Nath of Ward No. 1, their wards have to cross the river wading into its water as there is no bridge and when the water level rises, it is always risky to cross it. 

 Bal Krishna Gautam of the same ward said that last year the river swept away one person and this year, a good carrying truck got trapped in the river four times, causing damage to goods.  

He further added that the people of the two wards cannot go to Khalanga, the district headquarters, the rural municipality centre, Chhinikhet market and Rukum East in monsoon because of the flooded river. 

However, this year, the Karnali Provincial Government said it had allocated a budget for the construction of a bridge over the Puma River.

In the initiative of the then Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning of Provincial Government, Mahendra KC, a budget of Rs. 18 million has been allocated for the bridge construction.

According to Ward Chairperson of Banphikot Rural Municiplaity-1, lack of a bridge has caused great difficulty. "The river sweeps away people, livestock and even vehicles," he stated. 

Due to the lack of a bridge, children of Ward No.1 who study at Janakalyan Secondary School in Ward-2 face difficulty in attending school while the children of  Ward No.2 who are studying at Janabhawana School in Ward No.1 face the same difficulty, he said. 

“I am hopeful that the process of bridge construction will be started this year,” he added. 

After the bridge construction, movements of locals of Ward No. 1 and 2 as well as for those from Rukum East would be easier, he said.