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Following the heavy rainfall on September 27 and 28, 2024, floods and landslides have damaged nine suspension bridges across various rivers and streams in Ramechhap. This has caused transportation issues for locals. The floods alone have damaged eight suspension bridges on the Sun Koshi River, which connects Ramechhap and Sindhuli.

The floods have damaged suspension bridges at Belghari, Sitkha, Puchighat, Khurkot, Hardini, Birta, Chukiyaghat, and Mansulighat on the Sun Koshi River, which connects Ramechhap and Sindhuli, according to the District Disaster Management Committee of Ramechhap. Additionally, a bridge leading to Thami settlement in Daduwa Shailung Rural Municipality-1 has been washed away by the landslide. Currently, while the river levels are decreasing, the damage to the suspension bridges across the Sunkoshi has created transportation challenges for locals. Manab Majhi from Khadadevi Rural Municipality-1 stated that residents are forced to travel for hours to cross the river after the bridges were washed away. Gyan Kumar Shrestha, the Chairperson of Khadadevi Rural Municipality reported that after the flood washed away the suspension bridges, rafting has been temporarily initiated at two locations, Belghari in Khadadevi-1 and Puchighat in Khandadevi-4. He added, “It’s still risky, but it has made things a bit easier for now.” After the flood washed away the bridges, students commuting to school, patients seeking medical treatment, and farmers who need to cross the river for agricultural activities have faced significant challenges. Those who need to cross the river daily are now forced to either take the risk of entering the river or spend hours traveling around to reach another nearby bridge

Among the locations where bridges were washed away, areas like Sitkha and Khurkot have nearby concrete bridges, so locals there haven’t faced issues. However, people in the remaining seven areas are experiencing difficulties in commuting.

Nabaraj Ghimire