UDAYPUR: The absence of a bridge over the Sunkoshi River has caused significant hardship for passengers traveling to Khotang, especially during the Dashain festival.
Travelers coming from Kathmandu and various parts of the Terai via Gaighat in Udaypur and the Sagarmatha Highway are among the worst affected.
The bridge on the Sunkoshi River along the Gaighat–Diktel road section was destroyed by flooding last September. Although a temporary Bailey bridge was installed eight months ago, it has since been closed, forcing travelers to take long and costly detours through other routes.
With no direct access, passengers heading to Khotang during the festive season now have to travel via Okhaldhunga along the Siddhicharan Highway or take alternate routes through Dhankuta, Dharan, Bhojpur, Ghodetar in Sunsari, and Temkemaiyung. These detours are significantly longer and more expensive.
Dinesh Rai, who returned from Saudi Arabia to celebrate Dashain at his home in Khotang, shared his frustration: “Earlier, I could travel directly to Diktel from Gaighat in about six hours for just Rs. 1,000. Now, I’m forced to take a roundabout route through Okhaldhunga, Jayaram Ghat, Katari, and Siddhicharan Highway. It takes more than a day and costs over Rs. 3,000.”
Similarly, Tikaram Khadka, 45, of Diktel Khidima in Khotang, said he too has faced travel difficulties this Dashain due to the missing bridge — a problem he hadn’t experienced in years.
Locals and travelers are urging authorities to restore or rebuild the bridge promptly, warning that delays are not only disrupting festive travel but also affecting daily life and access to essential services.
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