In Karnali Province, fatal accidents continue to claim lives as residents are forced to cross rivers using tuins—makeshift cable crossings—due to the absence of proper bridges. Despite repeated tragedies, progress on building safe infrastructure remains slow, putting lives at daily risk.
On 7 Oct 2023, Makar Singh Nepali (38) of Soru Rural Municipality-5, Mugu, died while crossing the Karnali River via a tuin in Sarkegad Rural Municipality, Humla. The cable snapped, sending him plunging into the river. His body was recovered a month later.
Just a day later, on Oct 8, Tula Bohara (55) of Mudkechula Rural Municipality, Dolpa, fell into the Jagadulla River while trying to cross in a canoe—her only option after a bridge was destroyed by floods in 2019. She did not survive.
Another tragedy occurred when Bhuwame Khadka of Junichande Rural Municipality-4, Jajarkot, died after falling from a canoe while crossing the Chhedagarh River. In a similar incident a few years ago, Harisingh Khadka and Bir Bahadur Khadka were seriously injured.
These incidents represent only a small fraction of the accidents occurring across the province. Locals report that injuries, disappearances, and deaths due to unsafe crossings have become tragically routine. Yet, there is no comprehensive record of tuin-related fatalities. The Karnali Provincial Police Office in Surkhet has documented just three deaths and two injuries from tuin incidents since 2018, although locals insist the actual numbers are much higher. “What was meant to be a lifeline has become a symbol of fear and death,” said a resident of Humla.
In Sarkegad and similar areas, both residents and elected officials risk their lives daily crossing rivers on tuins. “There is no bridge here,” said local resident Aiti Phadera. “We cross the Karnali with our eyes closed, praying to our ancestral gods.” From transporting food and firewood to taking the sick for treatment, tuins are still widely used. Children also risk their lives every day on their way to school.
Preliminary data from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development shows that 55 tuin systems remain active in eight of Karnali’s ten districts. Humla has the highest number (15), followed by Kalikot (12), Jajarkot (12), and Surkhet (eight). Only Rukum Paschim and Jumla have no active tuins. Officials said the data was gathered through public notices and will be verified through on-site surveys.
To address the crisis, the Karnali Province Planning Commission has pledged to construct 496 suspension bridges within five years, increasing the total number from 1,304 to 1,800 by the end of the fiscal year 2025/26. This goal is part of the province’s second five-year development plan.
However, locals and social activists say progress has been slow and uneven. “Some tuins are tied to trees with frayed ropes—disaster can strike at any moment,” said local activist Bindulal Regmi. In some places, people are even charged to cross: Rs 1,000 for motorcycles and Rs 100 per person—an added burden for those already struggling.
Devaki Timalsina, Vice-chairperson of Sarkegad Rural Municipality, emphasized the need for coordinated action. “Our people are dying. This cannot go on,” she said. “The local, provincial, and federal governments must come together to build the bridges Karnali urgently needs.”
Though the region is now connected to the national road network, many remote communities still lack basic infrastructure like bridges. Until that changes, people will continue to cross rivers with prayer on their lips—and fear in their hearts.
