Kanchanpur, September 30
A suspension bridge connecting Dodhara Chandani with Bhimdatta Municipality in Kanchanpur has been damaged after flooding in the Mahakali River.
A section of the bridge was completely destroyed at around 8am on Wednesday after floodwaters damaged a pillar in the middle of the river, according to eyewitnesses.
Police said the sixth section of the bridge from the Bhimdatta Municipality-13 side and the third section from the Dodhara Chandani side were damaged.
The damaged section fell into the river after the central pillar collapsed, according to eyewitnesses.
Jagat Prasad Joshi, director of the Sudurpaschim Province Transport Infrastructure Directorate, said preparations were underway to send a technical team to assess the damage.
“I was also informed about the damage to the suspension bridge by the chief district officer. As soon as I received the information, preparations were made to send a technical team,” Joshi told Onlinekhabar. “The extent of the damage can only be determined after a detailed assessment by the technical team.”
Bridge built in 2004
The suspension bridge connecting Dodhara Chandani and Bhimdatta was completed in 2004.
According to Khadak Rawal, manager of Mahakali Online, local residents travelling across the bridge at around 4-5am on Wednesday noticed that one section of the bridge had risen unusually high.
Police were informed about the unusual condition of the bridge, Rawal said. However, at around 8am, the raised section collapsed into the river, he said.
Following the collapse, the direct route between Dodhara Chandani and Bhimdatta has been closed.
Rawal said people travelling between the two areas will now have to take a route around two kilometres upstream to cross the Mahakali River using a concrete bridge.
