Suspension bridge in Puchighat temporarily repaired

MANTHALI: The suspension bridge at Puchighat, which connects Khandadevi Rural Municipality of Ramechhap with Sunkoshi Rural Municipality of Sindhuli, has been temporarily repaired, bringing relief to local residents just as the monsoon season begins.

The 180-meter-long bridge, linking Puchighat in Ward No. 4 of Khandadevi and Chainpur in Ward No. 6 of Sunkoshi, was completely damaged by flooding in the Sunkoshi River following incessant rainfall in Ashoj last year. For the past nine months, locals had been struggling to cross the river safely.

Gyan Kumar Shrestha, Chairperson of Khandadevi Rural Municipality, informed that the bridge has been repaired on a temporary basis at a cost of Rs. 450,000, funded through the municipality’s Disaster Management Fund.

The repair aims to ease the movement of students, government employees, and farmers during the rainy season.

According to technician Harish Chandra Baral, suspension bridges in other locations within the rural municipality, including Kothway and Belghari, were only partially damaged and have already been restored using local resources.

Local teacher Durga Mahat from Puchighat said that the temporary repairs, which include wooden planks across the bridge and bamboo railings on the riverbanks, have eliminated the need for risky boat travel.

The repaired bridge has made daily life easier for over two dozen students commuting to Dirgha Pradim Secondary School in Sunkoshi from Khandadevi-4, for farmers heading to Khalte for agricultural work, and for government staff traveling across the river between Khalte and Khandadevi, said local resident Indra Bahadur Shrestha.

After the bridge was destroyed, the rafting service provided by the District Administration Office proved unreliable and inconvenient, especially for students. As a result, many were forced to cross the river using the damaged structure, risking their lives.

While the temporary repair offers immediate relief, locals have urged the concerned authorities to take steps toward a permanent and durable reconstruction of the bridge.