Seven villages have been cut off from the district headquarters after the floods of Budhigandaki river swept away a wooden bridge at Yarubagar in Gorkha district a week ago.

The wooden bridge at Manaslu foot trail has been the only pathway connecting the VDCs with the district headquarters. People in the area have been left in lurch after the floods washed away the bridge, according to Chief of Manaslu Area Conservation Project Bishnusingh Thakuri.

“Currently, people cannot travel through the foot trail,” said Thakuri, adding that three wooden bridges had been built to connect Sirdibash and Kerauja VDCs at Yarubagar after the devastating earthquake last year. 

Villagers and tourists are having difficulties travelling from Yarubagar. They are using an alternative route to pass the area. “We are walking through the forest area now,” said Dhan Bahadur Gurung of Machchhikhola, explaining that they were compelled to take risk while traveling from Uhiya to Sirdibash. According to villagers, they need to travel via helicopters or walk through the hilly area taking risk as mules cannot walk through the forest area. 

Likewise, the rough road that connects Barpak, the epicentre of the earthquake on April 25, 2015, with Gorkha headquarters also has been obstructed due to the incessant rainfall for the past few days. Local Jit Bahadur Ghale said rains have damaged road at Rangrung area. “The road is muddy and slippery now,” he said.