Karnali bridge which had mule accident awaiting repairs

BY KAMAL SHARMA,Dailekh, Dec. 27: The suspension bridge over the Karnali River connecting Panchdeval Binayak Municipality-9 in Achham district and Aathbiskot Municipality-4 in Dailekh district has not been repaired yet.

On June 9 this year, 14 mules were trapped when the bridge’s planks broke. After six hours of effort from locals and police, the mules were rescued. Unfortunately, one mule died on the bridge and another fell into the river. Even seven months after the shocking incident, no repair efforts have been made. 

Although the incident received widespread media coverage and local authorities promised repairs, no stakeholder has yet undertaken the necessary work. This has forced locals to travel in dangerous conditions, informed Bharat Saud from Aathbiskot Municipality-4. 

He said that the bridge built nearly two decades ago had deteriorated due to a lack of regular maintenance. 

Ganesh Shahi, a resident of Khidkijiula, stated that no attention had been paid to repairing the bridge, which has worsened since the incident. He urged the authorities to either repair the bridge immediately or close it to prevent further unwanted incidents. 

Bharat Saud, another local, informed that 50 children from Panchdeval Binayak Municipality-9 travel to New Bhairi Karnali Model School in Dailekh of Aathbiskot Municipality-4 crossing the bridge while 115 children from Aathbiskot Municipality-4 travel to Chandika Secondary School in Panchdeval Binayak Municipality-9. The deteriorating condition of the bridge is hindering children’s education.

Although a nearby bridge exists, residents prefer the shorter, dilapidated one for convenience, despite its poor state.

 Ammar Majhi from Aathbiskot Municipality-4 said that although there is another suspension bridge near Khidkijiula, its proximity to the Nainel Devi temple makes it difficult for pregnant women and those menstruating to cross the safe bridge. He said, “Those who are menstruating are forced to cross the dangerous bridge.”

A female teacher from Achham said that she had to leave her teaching job because the fear of the deity near the bridge prevented her from travelling safely. She also pointed out that female students who were menstruating were compelled to use the unsafe, dilapidated bridge to attend school. "Pregnant women and those in menstruation do not travel by the bridge and others use it because it is closer," she added.

Ram Prasad Jaisi, ward chairman of Panchdeval Binayak Municipality-9 in Achham, said that he had coordinated with various agencies for the construction of a new bridge, but the work has not yet been completed.

 He said that the municipality lacked the manpower to build the bridge, but they had approved the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a new bridge and construction will begin once the DPR is ready.

Ganesh Prasad Koirala, Acting Chief District Officer of Dailekh, also said that while efforts had been made to coordinate with the relevant authorities for the construction of a new bridge, the implementation of the project had been delayed. He assured that he would coordinate again with the concerned authorities to move the project forward.