Passengers going to and from Dolakha have been forced to switch transportation at the river. Transport service providers on both banks of the river are operating services on either side of the river. Passengers now have to get down at the river and cross over to other side by using a makeshift log bridge and board another bus to continue the remaining part of their journey.
"The vehicles that come from Charikot drop passengers on this bank. After that we ferry them across the river to other bank through a log bridge. Then they board another vehicle and continue rest of their journey," informed Balkrishna Acharya, a local transport operator. The 300 meter bridge that lies in the border of Bhimeswar Municipality and Boch VDC, is around nine kilometers from Charikot.
"We have been trying our best to keep the movement normal through the log bridge so far. It is now time for the government to take the issue more seriously," Santosh Kumar Kunwar, a local from Charikot said.
Hemraj Rimal secretary at the District Chamber of Commerce and Industries informed that travelers have been rerouted for using the Tamakoshi-Manthali-Khurkot roadway for accessing Kathmandu and other districts. However, he informed, that this alternative route extends the journey by two hours, summing up the travel time between Dolakha and Kathmandu to six hours.
Unverified reports claim that the flood might have been triggered due to bursting of water reservoirs formed up along the river stream due to a landslide. The bridge was constructed about 25 years ago with the aid of the Swiss Government.
Authorities mulling on possible solutions
Responding to the situation, the Department of Roads (DoR) has escalated process for constructing a bridge at the site. Officials from the Bridge Department have finished field survey of the area. "Design of the bridge will be finalized within a week and the process for installing the new bridge will start after that" said Kamlesh Kumar Karna, chief at the District Road Office, Charikot Division.
Karna informed that the department is yet to finalize the site for constructing the new bridge. Officials are mulling on constructing the bridge a little further down the river, which is less prone to flash floods. "DoR specialists have surveyed the area and returned. There is a possibility that flood might destroy the new bridge if it's installed in the old location," he said. Further, Karna said that DoR has pitched plans for constructing RCC pillar bridge.
As an immediate means to ease transportation, Karna said the department is also planning to install a Bailey bridge at the site. "For now a temporary Bailey-bridge will be installed. Construction of the permanent bridge is expected to start after Dashain-Tihar," he said.
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