Dolakha, September 7

Locals in several rural municipalities in Dolakha are forced to cross the Khanikhola with the help of a dilapidated risky cable contraption known as tuin, putting their lives at risk.

The locals in Marbu, Gaurishankar and Khare rural municipalities cross the river with the help of tuin due to lack of bridge over the river. The government had declared it would replace all tuins across the country with bridges.

According to locals, the authority concerned paid no heed to their demanded to replace the tuin and construct a bridge over the river. They said a temporary wooden bridge was used to cross the river in the winter season. The locals complained they were compelled to use the tuin as the wooden bridge gets swept away in the rainy season, every year.

Bimal Acharya, a local,  said students studying at Himwarti Secondary School at Marbu village risked their lives crossing the river using the tuin.

Gaurishankar RM Chair Swyam Bahadur Khadka said a contractor was chosen to build a suspension bridge over the river three months ago. “The budget was also allocated for the same,” he said. Villagers are forced to use the tuin as the contractor has yet to start construction.