Key Takeaways:

• A section of the Mahakali suspension bridge collapsed on Wednesday morning, bringing traffic to a complete halt
• Authorities say one span and a central tower have failed, making the bridge unusable.
• A technical team from the Sudurpashchim Province Infrastructure Directorate has been deployed to determine the cause of the damage
• The provincial government will assess repair options, with federal assistance to be sought if required

DHANGADHI, SEPTEMBER 30 Authorities have begun a technical assessment of the suspension bridge over the Mahakali River linking Dodhara-Chandani Municipality and Bhimdatta Municipality after a section of the structure collapsed on Wednesday morning, halting all traffic. Kanchanpur Chief District Officer Madan Koirala inspected the site and said a technical team from the Infrastructure Development Directorate under the Sudurpashchim Province Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has been called in to investigate the cause of the damage. According to Koirala, authorities immediately deployed security personnel and stopped movement across the bridge after receiving reports that the structure had become unstable. At around 8 am, a section of the bridge collapsed into the river. 'One span and one of the central towers have collapsed. The bridge is currently not usable,' Koirala said. He said the technical team would carry out an on-site inspection and prepare a detailed assessment of the causes behind the collapse. Based on the findings, authorities will move forward with plans to repair and reopen the bridge. Koirala said the Sudurpashchim provincial government would undertake the repair work if it falls within the province's jurisdiction and technical capacity. If the scale of damage exceeds provincial resources, the federal government will be requested to provide support. Authorities have urged residents not to gather around the damaged structure or attempt to take photographs and videos from close range, warning that the bridge remains unstable and poses safety risks. The suspension bridge, built roughly two decades ago, has served as a critical connection between Dodhara-Chandani and the rest of the country, supporting daily travel, commerce and access to essential services.