KATHMANDU: The Sunkoshi River experienced severe flooding due to nonstop rain from Thursday to Saturday. As a result, ten bridges that connect Sindhuli with the districts of Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga were destroyed. Eight suspension bridges and two motorable bridges collapsed as a result of the floods, seriously impairing transit routes to the hilly areas.
The motorable bridge that connected Khandadevi rural municipality-1 in Ramechhap to Khairenighat in Sunkoshi rural municipality-1 was washed away by the strong river, according to Sunkoshi-1 chairman Ram Kumar Shrestha. Residents who depend on the mid-hill route have been greatly affected, especially those from the rural municipalities of Khandadevi, Sunaptai, and Doramba.
Vice Chair of Khandadevi rural municipality, Rama Ghising, observed that a suspension bridge linking Sunkoshi-5 to Khandadevi-3 was also demolished in the water. The towns' transportation problems were made worse by the damage to other suspension bridges in Belghari and Puchhghat.
Ghising underlined the disaster's effects on education, pointing out that 35 pupils are unable to attend class because of transportation issues as a result of the damage of the motorable bridge and another suspension bridge that connected Ramechhap to Sindhuli.
A second suspension bridge and a motorable bridge connecting the rural municipality of Manthali in Ramechhap with Khurkot in Sindhuli were also harmed by the floodwaters. Residents in the nearby districts of Ramechhap, Dolakha, Okhaldhunga, and Solukhumbu are also impacted by this disturbance.
The substantial damage to infrastructure has resulted in significant losses for communities across several highland districts, including Okhaldhunga, as underlined by Jwala Prasad Neupane, Vice Chairman of Golanjor Rural Municipality.
Manoj Kumar Shrestha, a local businessman, has reported that transportation interruptions have stopped the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables from Ramechhap, which has resulted in the closure of hotels in the area. The hotel industry in Khorkot has also been negatively impacted.
Furthermore, residents of Phikkal rural municipalities-4, 2, and 5 in Sindhuli have experienced great inconveniences due to the loss of suspension bridges that connect them to Okhaldhunga. This is because the transit and supply of necessities have been halted.
A local delegate from the Phikkal rural municipality named Raj Baral brought up the effects of the impending festival season, which will increase demand for supplies, on the movement of products from Sindhuli to Ramechhap and Okhaldhunga.
All tiers of government have been urged to hasten the restoration of the roads and bridges damaged by the recent natural catastrophes by Krishna Maya Tolange of Goiri in Sunkoshi rural municipality-1. Declaring, "The three-day downpour has caused tremendous loss of life and property," she emphasized the seriousness of the situation.
Due to the destruction of essential transportation links, the surrounding communities are facing enormous hardships, which has prompted a need for quick assistance and rehabilitation activities.
Government action must be taken quickly to lessen the effects of the disaster and assist the impacted citizens, as seen by the overall effects of the flooding on transportation, education, and local businesses.
Restoring infrastructure and making sure that vital services are quickly restored continue to be the top priorities as communities struggle with the effects of the floods.
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