Means of transportation and movement of people have been affected as locals have been compelled to travel by foot. It now takes at least an hour to reach the hospital and the market area from the Dhakute road section."The bridge was the quickest way to reach the Western side of Dharan. But now it is a long and tiring walk," said a local.
According to the locals, the bridge had collapsed at about seven in the evening without any warning. "A loud crumbling sound made us aware of the situation. Everything was going fine before the fall," said the local.
The bridge was the best means of connectivity for locals residing in Dharan-9 and 19. Preliminary investigations have indicated flooding in the river behind the collapse of the bridge.
River water lashing against the bridge had eroded the foundations. However, no human causalities have been reported so far. Only four years ago, Dharan Sub-Metropolitan Office had renovated the bridge that was languishing in a sorry state.
Another local Ratna Kumari Rai remembers the incident as a shocking experience. "The rainfall was not that heavy, it was pretty mild. But the bridge came down making a loud sound. The crushing noise still sends chills down the spines," said Rai.
"My first guess was vehicles had met with an accident. But I was wrong," she added.
Dhankute road, which diverts off the Koshi Highway, is the direct road that connects to the BPKIH. At least hundreds of locals in public and private vehicles used to travel through the road section every day. The bridge was constructed in 1994.
According to Suraj Shrestha, Chief Engineer at project department of Dharan Sub-Municipality Office (DSMO), the bridge had collapsed due to its weak foundation.
"Regular rainfall had withered the bridge's eastern foundation. Consequently, the bridge lost its balance and collapsed," said Shrestha.
Tika Bhatta, executive director of DSMO and leaders affiliated to various political parties inspected the damaged bridge section since early Friday morning. Shrestha said that they have also informed the Biratnagar Road Division Office about the situation.
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