13 mules stuck in suspension bridge

ACHHAM: Thirteen mules have been stuck on a suspension bridge over the Karnali river as the deck of the bridge tilted.

A part of the bridge’s deck made of steel mesh suspended as the mules were walking over the suspension bridge linking Kalekanda, Panchadeval Binayak municipality-9 in Achham district and Khidkijyula of Aathbis Municipality-6, Dailekh district.

The mules’ legs have been stuck in the hole of the bridge’s wire mesh that forms its side bar. The mules are stranded in the middle of the bridge since the morning after their legs got stuck, said Santosh Pathak, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office Achham.

“Thirteen mules have been stranded after getting their legs stuck in the wire mesh. They are not able to free themselves. We have mobilised police personnel from various police stations in Achham and Dailekh for rescuing the mules,” he said.

It is said that the deck of the bridge on one side tilted sharply when the mules’ carrying loads started walking on the bridge together and their legs got stuck in the holes of the wire mesh on the side of the bridge. The mules’ legs have been lacerated due to this.

The right side of the suspension bridge suspended at 11 am today as the mules were crossing the bridge. This side of the bridge has completely twisted.

The bridge has been closed now. Traders were transporting goods using mules from Chiltada towards Khidkijyula of Dailekh.

A team of Chief District Officer of Achham, Shiva Prasad Lamsal and the chiefs of the security bodies in the district has left for the incident site for facilitating the rescue works.

A team of the Nepali Army, Gorakhbaks Company has also left for the site for the rescue, according to the District Police Office.