KATHMANDU, Sept 30: A section of the suspension bridge linking Dodhara-Chandani across the Mahakali River in Kanchanpur collapsed into the river on Wednesday after one of its towers gave way.
Kanchanpur Chief District Officer Madan Koirala said one of the bridge’s eight towers collapsed, causing the middle section to fall into the river and halting movement across the bridge.
Locals still crossing Mahakali River using tubes as Indian offi...
The bridge, used by pedestrians and motorcyclists, provided a shorter route between Dodhara Chandani and Mahendranagar. The collapsed section was the sixth from the Bhimdatta Municipality-13 side and the third from the Dodhara-Chandani side.
Koirala said the Mahakali River was carrying around 65,000 cusecs of water. A technical team from the Transport Infrastructure Directorate of Sudurpaschim Province has been called in to assess the damage and determine the time required for repairs.
Locals said they noticed the bridge section rising unusually high at around 4–5 am and informed police. The section fell into the river at around 8 am.
Built in 2005, the bridge was Nepal’s longest suspension bridge at the time. Following the collapse, people must travel about two kilometers upstream to use a motorable bridge.
