Humla. The bailey bridge has been constructed at Lotikhola of Changkheli rural municipality connecting Humla and Mugu.

The construction of bailey bridge has been completed at a cost of Rs 49.8 million. According to Naresh Raj Jaisili, chief engineer of the Infrastructure Development Office, the 42-metre-long bailey bridge is located at an altitude of 10 metres from the Karnali River and the bridge has a height of 3.15 metres, three panels and three decks.

Locals were facing problems due to lack of bridge at Lotikhola. In winter, vehicles used to cross the river after the water receded in the river, while a wooden bridge was built for light vehicles. People were also forced to cross the tuin after the bridge was washed away by the river in the rainy season.

Not only to connect Humla and Mugu, but also to travel to Piplang, the center of Changkheli rural municipality, the residents of the rural municipality were dependent on Tuin. Chairperson of Changkheli Rural Municipality, Pyari Lal Shahi, said that the problem of crossing three wards of Changkheli rural municipality to the rural municipality center has ended. According to him, the bailey bridge has been completed in a short time after continuous initiative.

The bridge has not only removed the compulsion of people including Mugu and Jumla to visit Kailash Mansarovar and the citizens of Humla to visit Rara Lake through Bajura. Humla Mugu Link is going to be formally inaugurated on July 15. The bailey bridge has been constructed after nearly four years of completion of the rural access programme (RAP 3) from Salisala in Changkheli to Bhatyachaur in Mugu district.

The bailey bridge was completed in about five months after signing an agreement with the District-based Infrastructure Development Office under the Directorate of Infrastructure Development, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development, Karnali State Government on December 1, 2081.