KATHMANDU: Yesterday's torrential rain triggered a flood, sweeping away the temporary bridge in Melamchi, as stated by Aitaman Tamang, the mayor of Melamchi Municipality. The bridge at Fatte in Melamchi Municipality-11 was made using a hume pipe, a temporary provisional structure after the previous bridge was washed away during floods in 2078 BS.

This was a vital connector for Melamchi Bazaar and nearby areas, including Melamchi Municipality 7 and 8, Panchpokhari Thangpal Rural Municipality 1 and 2, and parts of Helambu. Its destruction was totally devastating for the local mobility in these wards.

The mayor, Tamang, attributed the damage to the bridge due to the heavy rainfall that occurred overnight. He said that the loss of the bridge has disconnected people, thereby, affecting their commutation from one end of the municipality to the other.

The damage assessment work is underway and plans are being made for its restoration or other options to connect the missing links in road transportation in the affected areas.