Commuters on the Narayanghat-Muglin road are facing new safety risks after the railings of Namshi Bridge were stolen, officials said.

The Division Road Office in Bharatpur discovered the missing railings during an inspection on Monday morning , with the theft believed to have occurred overnight Sunday.

Krishna Acharya, information officer at the road office, said temporary pipes have been placed for night-time visibility. The stolen railings were from the old bridge next to the new one.

The Chitwan District Administration and police have launched an investigation to trace the stolen materials and identify those responsible.

Namshi Bridge, near Kalikahola, about 32 kilometres from Narayanghat, lies on the main route connecting Chitwan with Kathmandu and the tourist city of Pokhara. The road sees over 10,000 vehicles daily. Acharya warned that stealing infrastructure designed to prevent accidents is a serious offence. “This is not a minor incident. The search for those responsible is ongoing,” he said.

Commuters expressed safety concerns, saying missing railings could lead to accidents, especially during night travel.