SINDHULI: Continuous rainfall from last Thursday to Saturday led to significant flooding in the Sunkoshi River, damaging a total of 10 bridges that connect Sindhuli with the Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga districts.
The flooding resulted in the destruction of two motorable bridges and eight suspension bridges, severely disrupting transportation to the hilly areas.
Ram Kumar Shrestha, chairman of Sunkoshi-1, reported that the motorable bridge linking Khairenighat in Sunkoshi rural municipality-1 to Khandadevi rural municipality-1 in Ramechhap was swept away by the raging river.
As a result, residents relying on the mid-hill highway, particularly from Khandadevi, Sunaptai, and Doramba rural municipalities, have been significantly affected.
Vice Chair of Khandadevi rural municipality, Rama Ghising, noted that a suspension bridge connecting Sunkoshi-5 to Khandadevi-3 was also destroyed by the floodwaters. Additional suspension bridges at Belghari and Puchhghat were similarly affected.
Ghising emphasized the impact on education, stating, “With the destruction of the motorable bridge and another suspension bridge connecting Ramechhap to Sindhuli, 35 students are unable to attend school due to the lack of transportation.”
In addition, a motorable bridge and another suspension bridge connecting Khurkot in Sindhuli to Manthali rural municipality in Ramechhap were damaged by the swollen Koshi River, further affecting residents in Ramechhap, Dolakha, Okhaldhunga, and Solukhumbu districts.
Jwala Prasad Neupane, Vice Chairman of Golanjor rural municipality, highlighted the significant losses faced by communities in various hilly districts, including Okhaldhunga.
Manoj Kumar Shrestha, a hotel entrepreneur in Khorkot, reported that the disruption of transportation has halted the supply of fresh vegetables and fruits from Ramechhap, leading to the closure of hotels in the area.
Additionally, the destruction of suspension bridges linking Phikkal rural municipality-4, 2, and 5 of Sindhuli to Okhaldhunga has caused severe inconvenience, halting transportation and the supply of essential goods.
Raj Baral, a local representative from Phikkal rural municipality, pointed out the disruption of goods transport from Sindhuli to Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga, especially with the approaching festival season.
Krishna Maya Tolange from Goiri in Sunkoshi rural municipality-1 called on all levels of government to expedite the reconstruction of roads and bridges damaged by the recent natural disasters.
“The three-day downpour has caused tremendous loss of life and property,” she stated, underscoring the urgent need for accelerated relief efforts, repairs, and reconstruction.
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