By Our Correspondent, Gorkha, (Sulikot), Aug.1: Around 150 households in and around Manakamana of Shahid Lakhan Rural Municipality-3 have been affected after a suspension bridge connecting Silingtар and Cheres was damaged by flooding following recent heavy rains.
The damage to the bridge linking Silingtar in Shahid Lakhan-3 with the lower station of the Manakamana Cable Car at Cheres has affected residents of Silingtar Kewarpani and Manakamana Hatiya, as well as pilgrims visiting the area.
Ward Chairman Dipak Pandey said the damaged bridge has disrupted daily travel, education, the transportation of agricultural produce to markets and the purchase of essential goods.
With the bridge no longer usable, locals have been forced to take an alternative route to reach the highway. Ward Chairman Pandey said they now have to travel via another bridge and make a detour to Theuwatar, which takes around one and a half to two hours.
More than 50 students travelling to schools and colleges in Kurintar and Muglin have also been affected by the damage. Local farmers are facing difficulties transporting vegetables and other agricultural produce to markets and bringing daily necessities and essential supplies back to their villages.
Pilgrims visiting the Manakamana Temple have also been affected. Pilgrims who cannot or do not wish to use the cable car used to cross this bridge to reach Silingtar, from where they would take buses or jeeps to Manakamana Temple.
“Devotees are also facing difficulties because the bridge is no longer usable,” said Pandey. He added that the recent flooding in the Trishuli River swept away even the area where vehicles could be parked near the bridge.
According to locals, the bridge was also damaged by floods two years ago. As repeated flooding has caused damage to the bridge, residents have called for a long-term solution.
Locals have urged the concerned authorities to take immediate steps to repair and restore the bridge.
The Rising Nepal
