Mahakali Suspension Bridge Damaged

Dhangadhi. The news of damage to the suspension bridge over the Mahakali River on Wednesday morning startled the residents of Dodhara-Chandani in Kanchanpur. There was no major flood in the Mahakali. The locals became concerned after seeing about 25 percent of the bridge, which has been the basis of daily commute for a long time, damaged. With the damage to the bridge, the residents of Dodhara-Chandani remembered the difficult times of the past without a bridge. Even though commuting is now easy with a paved road and a four-lane bridge, this suspension bridge is still an important link for the locals. During the time when the bridge was not built, the residents of Dodhara-Chandani were forced to use the Indian route to reach Mahendranagar, the district headquarters of their own district. According to locals, commuting from the Nepal side was not easy at that time. They had to depend on India for daily necessities, treatment, and other essential work. Haris Bhatta of Dodhara-Chandani still remembers those days. According to him, it was very difficult to reach Mahendranagar from the settlement surrounded by the Mahakali, Jogbuda rivers, and various streams. He said, 'At that time, if we had to go to Mahendranagar, we had to use the Indian route. It was even more problematic during the monsoon. Seeing the damage to the bridge now brings back memories of that time.' According to him, the daily life of Dodhara-Chandani was connected with the Indian market for a long time as the settlement began to expand. According to another local, Ranveer Thaguna, the settlement in Dodhara-Chandani began around 2022 BS. At that time, due to the lack of easy contact from the Nepal side, they had to come to Mahendranagar by taking a detour through India's Banbasa. However, after the construction of the suspension bridge over the Mahakali River in 2058 BS, the daily life of the residents of Dodhara-Chandani changed significantly. After the bridge came into operation, commuting from the Nepal side became easier. It became easy to reach Mahendranagar for market, education, health, and other services. Uma Devi Singh says that local trade and business also gained momentum with the bridge. She experienced that after the construction of the bridge, the movement of people increased and the market became more bustling. She said, 'After the bridge was built, people started coming, and business increased. Tourists also used to come. Now that the bridge is damaged, we are facing problems from today, and it needs to be repaired quickly.' Businessmen around the suspension bridge are now worried about the decrease in commuting again. The business of small shops operating through the bridge is directly linked to the condition of the bridge due to the local people, tourists, and other travelers who commute via the bridge. In recent years, however, the infrastructure of Dodhara-Chandani has undergone significant changes. Main roads have been blacktopped. Paved and suspension bridges have been constructed over various rivers and streams. The four-lane paved bridge built over the Mahakali River has also provided another easy route connecting Dodhara-Chandani with other parts of the country. Nevertheless, the utility of the old suspension bridge has not ended yet. This bridge has been used as a local contact route connecting settlements, markets, and riverside areas. Therefore, when the bridge was damaged, the locals remembered the difficulties they faced in the past along with the impact on their immediate commute. This bridge has been a major tourist attraction, and the number of people coming to see it was also high. On Wednesday, a team from the provincial government, including Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Khagraj Bhatta, conducted an on-site inspection of the damaged bridge. The team included Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Om Bikram Bhat 'Saral', Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment Prakash Rawal, and State Minister for Economic Affairs Janaki Air. Rajendra Singh Rawal, a leader of the ruling coalition CPN-UML, also took information about the condition of the bridge. After the inspection, Chief Minister Bhatta said that the bridge would be technically studied and further action would be taken based on the feedback from the federal government. Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development Bhat mentioned that this bridge plays a key role in connecting Dodhara-Chandani with Nepal and assured that work would proceed in coordination with the federal government, and if necessary, the provincial government would also take initiative for construction and repair. Similarly, State Minister for Economic Affairs Janaki Air said that it is unfortunate that the bridge in a place known as a tourist destination has been damaged. She said that the provincial government would coordinate with the relevant bodies and take initiative for repair. Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment Prakash Rawal also said that necessary support and coordination would be provided to expedite the work on the bridge. The construction of a dry port is also underway in Ward No. 1 of Dodhara-Chandani. With the addition of roads, bridges, irrigation, and other infrastructure, the daily life here, which was once completely dependent on India's routes and markets, has been gradually changing. Even in the current times, the suspension bridge is equally necessary and important, and it is an indispensable infrastructure for daily commute and tourism activities. Therefore, the locals have urged for the prompt repair of the bridge.