Pokhara, June 23 

An under construction bridge over the Madi River was swept away at Jyamdu of Madi Rural Municipality, Kaski, today morning.

The swollen river washed away the bridge that was about to be black-topped, said rural municipality Chair Bed Bahadur Gurung. Gurung blamed that contractor’s negligence for the incident.

“The contractor did not work before the monsoon and the incident occurred as work had been stepped up in the monsoon,” he charged.

The bridge links wards no 3 and 7 of Madi Rural Municipality.

Heatuda-based Contractor Mrit Sanjivani Construction Service was awarded the contract to build the bridge by then District Development Committee.

The bridge was scheduled to be completed by 3 May 2018 at a cost of Rs 80 million. The Swiss government has chipped in for the construction.

The deadline for completing the bridge was extended twice. The last deadline had expired three months ago.

Locals have been dismayed after the bridge was swept away.