A bridge over Baulaha River at Devchuli – 12 of Nawalparasi district along the East-West Highway caved in after a truck crashed into it on Sunday morning. Following the incident, the vehicular movement on the highway was obstructed for around nine hours, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

A west-bound truck (Na 6 Kha 3017) crashed into the bridge at around 3: 30 in the morning, causing the left side of the bridge to cave in around one feet, said Road Division Office, Butwal.

DSP Rajesh Thapa said a temporary diversion was put in place with the help of Area Police Office Nawalpur for the passage of small vehicles and ambulance. But the heavy vehicles including long-route buses have been stuck forming a long queues that have stretched up to Rajhar and Kawasoti on the highway.

One passenger Sagar Maharjan, who was heading for Butwal from Kathmandu, said he was stranded at Daldale until the afternoon though he had to reach his office in the morning.  “General people are forced to bear the brunt due to the government’s failure to maintain the condition of dilapidated bridges on the major highway,” said Maharjan.

Road Division Chief Engineer Meghraj Marashini said the vehicular movement has been obstructed after the bridge gave way due to the impact from the truck strike. “We are using local roads to operate the vehicular movement,” said Marashini. “We will build a diversion by Monday to resume the vehicular movement.