The construction of a Bailey bridge was completed over Lotikhola in Changkheli Rural Municipality in Humla. 

The installation of the Bailey bridge was completed at a cost of around Rs 50 million. 

Formal inauguration of the bridge would be held on Tuesday. 

According to Naresh Raj Jaisi, Chief Engineer of the Infrastructure Development Office, the 42-meter-long bridge has three panels and three decks, and is situated 10 meters above the Karnali River. 

With the completion of the bridge, the local communities in Mugu and Humla districts have largely benefitted, mostly during the rainy season.

As the water level receded during winter, the heavy vehicles used to cross the river without a bridge, while a wooden bridge was built for the light vehicles. However, the people were forced to use hanging ropes (known as tuin) to cross the river after the flood in the river washed away in the monsoon. 

The new Bailey bridge has not only connected the two districts but also facilitated the mobility of people there to visit the headquarters of Changkheli Rural Municipality. 

With the installation of the Bailey bridge, the residents of three wards in the rural municipality will not have to use the tuin to cross the rivers for visiting the center of the rural municipality, said Pyarilal Shahi, Chairperson of Changkheli Rural Municipality.

She expressed satisfaction for the timely construction of the Bailey bridge thanks to the continuous efforts of the stakeholders. 

The pilgrims visiting Kailash Mansarovar from Mugu, Jumla and other districts as well as the people visiting Rara Lake from Humla now won't have to travel along Bajura district after the installation of the bailey bridge. 

The Infrastructure Development Office under the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development of the Karnali Province constructed the project in a short span of five months following an agreement in December 2024.