Kathmandu — Three workers who were seriously injured after the collapse of an under-construction Bailey bridge over the Hewa River, along the Mechi Highway in Panchthar district, have died during treatment.
According to police, the deceased have been identified as 22-year-old Rupalal Chaudhary, 27-year-old Rajan Chaudhary, and 22-year-old Rakesh Chaudhary, all residents of Simara Sub-Metropolitan City–12 in Bara district.
Bridge Was Being Reinstalled After Last Year’s Floods
Following the incident, the severely injured workers were initially taken to Panchthar Hospital. As their condition deteriorated, they were referred to the Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital in Biratnagar, Morang. However, doctors at the hospital declared them dead, a spokesperson from the District Police Office in Panchthar confirmed.
As of now, three other injured workers are still undergoing treatment in Biratnagar, and their condition is reported to be stable. The tragic incident occurred during the reconstruction of the Bailey bridge that had been washed away by a flood last year.
The original bridge was swept away by flooding on Asoj 12 (a date in the Nepali calendar), and efforts were underway to install a new structure. However, before the reinstallation could be completed, the bridge suddenly collapsed, leading to the fatal accident.
Local authorities and technical teams have launched an investigation into the incident. Preliminary assessments suggest that the collapse may have occurred due to a failure to adhere to proper safety protocols during construction.
