By Sher Bahadur Sharki, Bajura, Nov. 5: Drivers have been taking a great risk to cross the Jadanga river as no bridge has been made over it even after four months when the bridge over the stream along the Sanphe-Martadi road section was washed away.

The flooding in the Budhikhola stream triggered by the incessant rainfall on July 30 had swept away the bridge at Jadanga rivulet in Badimalika Municiplaity-4.

The vehicles carrying food to Martadi have to be driven across the rivulet because of the lack of bridge construction even four months after the bridge collapsed.

Ram Chaudhary, a truck driver, said that it was difficult to cross the river with the loaded vehicle as the flow of the water had not deceased yet.

Ram said, “I bring the food from Dhangadhi but there is no bridge here. So, we are compelled to take a risk of driving in the rivulet by covering the vehicle with tent as the food needs to be transported to district headquarters, Martadi, without getting drenched.”

Sometimes we go directly by crossing the river, but, other times, the vehicles need to be pulled up with sky vector if it is slightly over loaded because we got stuck in the middle of the stream, said Khadga Rawat, another truck driver.

With the active work of the local youths, a wooden bridge is built over the river which has made it very easy for people to move.

The locals said that the bridge had not been built yet, even though the stakeholders in the district promised to build a bailey bridge on the river as soon as the rainy season was over.

Besides, there are no bridges in dozens of places of Barjugad, Tamprisera Ghattekhola and Harhare stream along the Sanphe-Martadi road.

After the floods in July washed away all the bridges in the river, vehicles coming from inside and outside the district have been suffering a lot.

District Administration Office, Bajura, said that it had been requesting and facilitating the Division Office (road) for the construction of a bailey bridge over the river considering the difficulty of the vehicles carrying food to the district headquarters, Martadi.

Krishna Gaire, Chief District Officer of Bajura, said that he had received information from the Division Office that tender has been called for a contract to transport a bailey bridge located at Godavari in Kailali to Jadanga stream of Bajura.

According to the Sanphe Martadi Road Division Office, Achham, talks were underway with the higher authorities for the construction of other concrete bridges.