KHOTANG, July 31

Since floods in the local rivers swept away bridges at a number of places weeks ago, people in over a dozen villages in Khotang are facing a hard time moving to and from their neighbouring villages.

Floods in Sapsukhola and Mewakhola River caused by heavy rainfall in the first week of July had washed away Lamiduwali, Barmi and Siruwa suspension bridges, besides sweeping away wooden bridges at around a dozen places and two steel truss bridges.

Lamiduwali Bridge joined Ratanchha-4 and Dorpachiuridanda-5, Barmi and Siruwa bridge joined the villages in Mattim and Temma and Mattim and Chhitapokhari respectively. Two truss bridges joined Khidima-7 and Chhitapokhari-9 and Khidima-3 and 8.

According to Bhuwan Kumar Acharya of Mattim, the sweeping away of the bridges have caused great hardship especially for students.

“Actually, it’s everyone who has been suffering but among them the students are suffering most as they are now unable to attend school that lies across the river,” said Acharya,.

Hanshraj Rai of Khidima lamented the hardship people are facing in going to the district headquarters or elsewhere from their village.

“As it’s rainy season, there is no question of wading through the river. People have to take a detour to reach even nearby places,” said Nabin Rai, a local.

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of Parimayan Rai, 40, of Mattim-5 and her 12-year-old daughter Samita are yet to be known after they were swept away in the flooded Mewakhola River on the night of July 4.