A suspension bridge over Gharkhola stream connecting Ghar and Sikh VDCs in Myagdi district is falling apart.

The 35-year-old bridge has not been repaired for ages. Its twines are damaged, so are its fences and its wooden deck.

The bridge falls along the Tatopani-Ghorepani trail, a popular trekking route, and is used by both foreign and domestic trekkers on a daily basis.

Kamal Khatri, a local, said if the bridge is not repaired, it could collapse any day.

He said many foreign trekkers see the condition of the bridge and complain to villagers.

Although the government has been allocating Rs 6,000 annually for the bridge’s maintenance, the villagers said, that the local authorities have been using the money elsewhere.

Ganesh Gautam, the accounting officer of Beni Municipality, said though they had received Rs 94,000 to repair the suspension bridges, they had to transfer the budget to other works as there were no bridge attendants.   

Bal Krishna Paudel, sub-engineer of District Technical Office, said they have no proper data of all suspension bridges in the district.