KALIKOT, Nov 2: The ladder used to climb onto the suspension bridge built over the Karnali River connecting Khanda Chakra Municipality-2 Jitegadha bazar (market) and Narharinath Rural Municipality-1 Lalighat Bazar in Kalikot has now gone viral on social media.
The reality of this viral bridge is, however, different. The floods and landslides that have occurred since October 5 have caused a huge loss of property in Karnali. The same flood swept away one side of the suspension bridge connecting Jitegadha market and Lalighat Bazar (market) along the Karnali River.
Walk in the clouds: World’s longest pedestrian suspension bridg...
Due to the bridge connecting the Karnali Corridor and the Karnali Highway, an alternative bridge that can be crossed has been set up by constructing a wooden ladder with an investment of Rs 200,000 by Narjang Malla, a local resident.
The bridge was destroyed by a landslide caused by continuous rains since October 5. "Federal, provincial and local governments did not pay attention to make Karnali passage through that bridge. The flood washed away everything except the half of the bridge's sticks,”Narjang Malla said. “Even though there were only sticks left on the bridge, I made it easy for the people to come and go on the bridge even if it was through a ladder,” he added.
According to Malla, because there was no bridge, citizens were forced to cross the Lalighat bridge on foot and walk from the temple. Due to the flow of the river toward the Jitegadha market area of the bridge, which is used by hundreds of passengers every day, there was nothing left of the bridge except sticks, and the rest of the section was left empty and the bridge was supported by ladders. The bridge has been repaired with the help of local resident Narjang Malla, Midwest Transport Pvt Ltd and businessmen.
Locals say that even though there is some ease for walking after the construction of the ladder, it is necessary to repair the bridge immediately by the authorities concerned. Residents of Narharinath Rural Municipality, Sanni Triveni Rural Municipality, Pachaljharana Rural Municipality, Raskot Municipality, Palata Rural Municipality, Bajura District and Humla District of Kalikot district have been regularly traveling through this bridge.
