Dharan, Sept. 4 -- Residents of ward 5 in Dharan Sub-metropolis have been risking their lives every monsoon to cross the Leduwa stream, as the long-promised bridge remains incomplete after five years.

Despite repeated deadline extensions, only 64 percent work has been completed since the project began in July 2020. The bridge was supposed to be completed by July 2021 under a Rs12.1 million contract with World Trade Construction Company.

However, repeated delays and disputes have left the project stalled. Locals of both ward 5 and 4 of Dharan rely on this bridge for education, health care, and agricultural trade.

"We sometimes have to use makeshift bamboo crossings during floods to take patients to hospitals," said local resident Raj Ku...