Repair work is underway on the trail to Chum Valley in northern Gorkha, which was blocked by landslides and floods. Work is progressing so that the trail can reopen within a few days.
Movement to and from Chumchet and Chhekampar has come to a halt after the cantilever bridge at Sardibhir in Chumnubri Rural Municipality-6 was swept away.
Preparations are underway to put a wooden bridge at the same spot and get the trail operating again, said the rural municipality chair, Nima Lama.
“The flood swept away the cantilever bridge over the Syar Khola on the Budhigandaki,” he said. “Work is underway to install a wooden bridge so people can cross.”
He said a total of four wooden bridges will be installed. According to him, the trail to Chum Valley will reopen once the wooden bridges are built.
“We have already repaired the trail wherever necessary. Once the wooden bridges are in place, the trail up to Chhekampar will open,” he said.
He said it will take about ten days for the trail to become operational. He added that the wooden bridges will not solve the problem in the long term. He suggested that either a cantilever bridge be installed in the area again, or a new track be cut by blasting.
“These wooden bridges will also be swept away once the rains come. We have made this makeshift arrangement for a short period during the emergency,” Lama said.
He said the work of reopening the trail is being carried out at the rural municipality’s expense.
