Rhino Cruise vessel stuck at Narayani bridge capsizes during removal attempt

The attempt to remove the 'Rhino Cruise' vessel, swept away by floods in the Narayani river and stuck against a pillar of the Narayani bridge, has failed for a second day.

Sunday evening's flood swept away the three-storey cruise vessel that had been moored in front of Hotel River Crown and carried it to a pillar on the Gaidakot side. After the vessel got stuck against the pillar, raising the risk of damage to the bridge itself, efforts began to pull it to the Gaidakot-side bank.

Assistant Chief District Officer Chiranjivi Rana said an approximately 80-tonne-capacity crane from a hydropower project, a crane from the Narayanghat-Butwal Road Project, and an excavator were being used to pull the vessel. According to him, on Monday, after the vessel was moved slightly north of the pillar, the crane's rope snapped, halting the work.

Vehicle movement on the bridge was completely halted during the towing operation. According to the administration, another attempt will begin from early tomorrow morning.

According to the operating company, the vessel had been tied to a tree with two 20-millimeter ropes, but those ropes snapped after being struck by large trees swept down by the flood.

Minister for Physical Infrastructure Sunil Lamsal said the necessary equipment and personnel have been deployed to safely remove the vessel.