KATHMANDU, July 4: The last suspension bridge over the Marsyangdi River connecting Naprabhumi Rural Municipality in Manang has been swept away by floods and landslides due to continuous rainfall in the region. According to reports, problems in supply of food and basic essentials have arisen due to the collapse of the bridge.
As stated by Mingma Tsering Lama, chief of the rural municipality, the bridge collapsed due to continuous rainfall and landslides in the region since mid of June.
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“The incessant rainfall has wreaked havoc in the whole district. Also, Napra is the remotest area in the district as transport services are not available. People in the municipality use horses and donkeys to bring in food and basic essentials. However, various problems have started to arise for the locals following the collapse of the only major bridge connecting the rural municipality.
Three out of four bridges connecting Naprabhumi were earlier swept away by continuous floods and landslides. According to the people’s representatives, now the only bridge in the region has also collapsed. Regular supply of food and basic essentials to the rural municipality has been cut off following the loss of all four bridges in the region.
According to Mingmar Phunstok Lama, ward chairman of Naprabhumi-2, traffic and food deliveries have been put on hold due to the risk of an accident while traveling at the moment. This has seriously affected the local businesses and the general public in Naprabhumi Rural Municipality.
According to sources, the district has faced huge damages worth tens of millions of rupees. The floods in the Marsyangdi River and other tributaries have damaged houses, roads, temples, monasteries and bridges in the district. While areas like Nason, Chame and Ngisyang Rural Municipality in the district have suffered heavy damages from floods and landslides, Naprabhumi Rural Municipality has been mostly affected by landslides.
