After Budhigandaki sweeps away bridge, food ferried by cable and pulley

In Dharche Rural Municipality of Gorkha, after a flood in the Budhigandaki swept away a suspension bridge, food supplies are being sent to Keraujabeshi using a cable and pulley system.

Rural municipality chair Laxman Gurung said food transport had been halted since the flood swept away the bridge connecting Khorlabeshi and Keraujabeshi, and that the local arrangement was made to prevent a food crisis.

An electrical wire has been strung across the river. On the Khorlabeshi side, it is tied to the structure of the former suspension bridge, and on the Keraujabeshi side, to a tree. A small box, attached to a ring and net made of gabion wire, is moved back and forth along the wire using a pulley.

Rice, salt, oil, sugar and other food items are being ferried across the river in the same box. Once across, locals carry the goods on foot the rest of the way to the village, Chair Gurung said.

He said supplies began being sent from Asoj 30 and continued on the 31st as well. Keraujabeshi has 15 households in total.

The flood of Asoj 25 swept away four bridges in Dharche Rural Municipality alone: the bridge connecting Machhakhola and Lamabeshi; the Dobhan suspension bridge connecting wards 1 and 3; the Thadobharyang suspension bridge; and the Dobhan-Khotrang Bailey bridge. This has cut off the route to Kerauja, Runchek, Hulchuk and Keraujabeshi, leaving around 800 households in the area without contact.