Rautahat, May 29 -- A bridge under construction over the Chandi river in ward 3 of Chandrapur Municipality in southern Nepal's Rautahat district has become a stark example of contractor negligence and official apathy, with the project still incomplete nearly a decade after work began.

The bridge, considered a lifeline for residents of the remote Gaindatar area in the Chure hills, was supposed to be completed within two years. But despite repeated deadline extensions, locals remain cut off from easy access to the district headquarters, markets, hospitals and other essential services.

During the monsoon, flooding in the Chandi river regularly severs the area's connection with the rest of the district, forcing residents to cross dangerous ...