People coming to Nepal from India or vice versa were stranded on the either side of the bridge, which is the only way for the locals of Darchula to reach nearby Indian towns. Much of Darchula was devastated by a deadly flood in June this year. The flood that killed at least three people had swept away dozens of houses, including major government offices, rendering over 100 families displaced. As the Mahakali flood badly damaged the Darchula-Baitadi road, Darchula is now virtually cut off from rest of the country. ][break]
As the enraged flood victims latched both entrance gates of the bridge, some people, including 17 policemen, were stuck in the middle of the bridge for half an hour. Later, the police rescued them from the bridge by using force.
The flood victims also shut down Khalanga, the district headquarters of Darchula, protesting the government´s delay in providing compensation to them. “We had to take to the streets as the government turned a deaf ear to our problems,” said Mangal Singh Thagunna, Darchula district chapter president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).
The flood victims say the government has done nothing to address their problems even two months after the tragedy.
In addition to adequate compensation, the flood victims have demanded that the government immediately repair the Darchula-Baitadi road, which is the life line of the whole Darchula region. As the road continues to get blocked, prices of daily essentials have shot up in Darchula.
The flood victims have also demanded that the government declare one Dev Singh Karki as a martyr. Karki, who had reached Kathmandu as a member of a delegation team of Darchula flood victims to press the government for addressing their problems, had died of heart attack in a hotel room in the capital.
The flood victims have even warned of boycotting the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) elections if the government did not address their problems. “No one will turn up to vote any party if our problems are neglected,” said Dil Bahadur Kunwar, treasurer of a struggle committee formed by Darchula flood victims.
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