Construction of a suspension bridge at Lalima Village in Lekam Rural Municipality-3, Darchula, has been left neglected for months now.

Villagers say the bridge project has not progressed an inch since mid-June. 

The contractor halted the project, citing rise in the water revel.

Manomalika Construction Company was awarded the contract for the Rs 13.2 million project two years ago. It has already missed its deadline once, and the next completion date is only a few months away.

Lalima residents doubt the contractor will complete the bridge bordering Nepal and India in time.

Contractor Deepak Saud said the delay was caused due in part of the Indian authorities for not approving the project in time. The project was further hampered by the delay in import of construction materials, he added.

Tara Bhandari, a local man, said as the bridge was nowhere near complete, they had no alternative but to cross the river with the help of tubes risking their lives.