5/16/2015-On our way to Kurintar, Chitwan, I caught a glimpse of a little girl appeared to be 10 years old crossing the river through bucket bridge, a bucket in a tight rope. It was Friday afternoon here in Hudi khola. PCD Dallas Team and Volunteer team from Nepal: Mr. Tenzing Ngawang Lama and Urusha Kadel were exploring the damaged nearby areas. We made our way toward the bridge. A little girl was crossing the river in a Bucket bridge carrying some relief supplies.There were other villagers including the girl as young as 8 years old waiting in line to cross the river via the same route. As I stood there, I watched the crossings very closely. One middle aged man was crossing the river with bucket full of tin roof. Along the half- way, Tin roof got his side-neck cut. The wound was deep enough.
The journey was indeed very perilous. People who are crossing were endangering their life. The crossing did not seem easy either. While crossing, the person has to strenuously exert pulling force on the bucket until one reached to the destination. The returning takes the pushing of the bucket by somebody else. If one one is available, there is no luck of returning home. “This is our only route toward our home and the route to school for our children.” The person next to me lamented. We looked across the river. There were few damaged houses nearby the shore. I saw few more up toward the mountain. They were of Chepang Community. We wanted to see if they have received any rescue or relief aid on their village. The relief supply was only distributed on the opposite side of their village. It’s almost impossible to take any relief aid across the river via the Tightrope Bucket Bridge. It is risky to ride too. Two years ago, the rope was snapped open killing 8 little students. If anyone braved to cross via Bucket bridge, that person can only take limited amount of relief materials. And, that would not be enough for the whole village of people.
As my rescue effort, I risked crossing the bridge and took few supplies with me. As I return, I left NRs. 4,000 to one family.
The People of Hudi Khola are already poverty-stricken and has limited access to the transportation.
With this limitation, children are very vulnerable because with such transportation, they might not be able to make it to their school consistently. This earthquake has only put extra burden on their livelihood. In the current situation, It is a battle to survive. I request everyone to keep People of Hudi Khola and Hudi Khola bridge project in your thoughts. Help spread the message. And ,if you are resourceful and capable, help from your side.
