Of the 14 mules that got trapped on a suspension bridge across the Karnali River in Dailekh on Sunday morning after the bridge cables on one side snapped, 12 were rescued alive after several hours of efforts, but two others died.

The bridge, which was in a dilapidated condition, connects ward 4 of Athbiskot Municipality of Dailekh and ward 9 of Panchadewal Binayak Municipality of Achham. The incident occurred at around 9:30am.

Teams from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police, along with local residents, had cut the wires and dropped the mules into the river to rescue them.

The mules were part of a train heading for Khidkijyula Bazar in ward 4 of Athbiskot Municipality from ward 9 of Panchadeval Binayak Municipality for bringing daily essentials.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Sunil Dahal, chief of the District Police Office in Dailekh, said that one of the mules had already died on the bridge and another died while being dropped into the river. For several hours, the mules were left almost dangling, their legs protruding, and their necks and abdomens pressed against the thin metal wires, leading to their deaths.

Mules are commonly used to transport goods in remote regions of Nepal due to the challenging terrain and lack of road networks.