A perilous journey through dilapidated rafts

This bridge, which is connected to the daily life of the local people, is made even more terrifying by the overflowing Maire River during the rainy season. The sticks of the suspension bridge are very old. Wooden planks have been placed on the bridge. There are no nuts and bolts. To some extent, after the bridge slabs fell, the locals are trying to fix it by adding wood in their own way. The bars of the narrow bridge are also broken. Bridges are sometimes impassable due to falling planks. But due to local compulsion, they are taking the risk and are coming from the bridge. After the

became a risk, Vigu-8 president Hira Thami said that the Jholunge bridge program has already conducted a survey to replace the bridge and build a new one. However, funds have not been allocated for the construction of the bridge. President Thami said that although the program has allocated 10 million rupees for Vigu, there is no information about where the bridge will be built. He repeatedly asked to build a bridge connected with the daily life of the local people, he said, "The access of the minority Thami community remains unreachable, those who have access take such a plan on their own."

He said how many times he had to get his legs stuck while walking from the bridge. "Sometimes we roll the planks to see if the dilapidated bridge is passable," he said.

Local relatives of Kalinchok-1 Campol and Singti Bazar used to cross this bridge. It has been a long time since the planks of the walking part of the bridge crumbled. The locals of Thamichagu are using this bridge for farming. Children also go to school through this bridge. Locals also said that the planks that were put in the rain are getting cracked and falling. A few days ago, after the plight of the bridge came to the social media, Kalinchok rural municipality closed the bridge. Now to facilitate the locals for the immediate The planks have started to be changed. President of Kalinchok-1, Padam Thami, said that even if the board is changed to allow immediate movement on the dilapidated bridge, the risk remains the same. "After seeing the bad condition of the bridge in the social network, we have started putting up plaques with repairs," he said.

Locals have been asking the hydropower project to construct a new bridge. But the locals complain that even the project has not been heard.

Locals carrying grass across the dangerous suspension bridge of Maire River connecting Vigu-8 and Kalinchok-1. Photo: Kedar Sivakoti/Kantipur

The current condition of the suspension bridge. After commenting on the condition of the bridge on the social network, the board is moving to walk on the bridge. Photo: