Women took part in an indefinite relay hunger strike that entered the seventh day today in Mahabirchowk, Siraha,  with the demand for early completion of a bridge spanning the Kamala River between Siraha and Dhanusha districts on the Postal Highway.

Postal Highway Struggle Committee Coordinator Ram Rijhan Yadav said they were compelled to resort to hunger strike. “It has been more than seven years since the construction started but there is no sign of the bridge being completed anytime soon. This has compelled us to strike,” said Yadav.

Pappu-Lumbini JV had signed a contract for completing the bridge in three-and-a-half years. The bridge is expected to cost more than Rs 281 million.  “So far, work related to the foundation and substructure of the pillars has finished. Of the 13 pillars, work related to beam slabs of four pillars has finished, and work on nine pillars is on,” said company engineer Januma Yadav.