Residents of Ajaytodki village in Ward 2 of Gaumul Rural Municipality in Bajura are left without food and shelter as the village has been cut-off from the rest of the country for the past two days.

A total 20 families comprising 90 people reside in the village.

Road network to the district headquarters Martadi has been disconnected after the swollen Budhiganga River swept away a bailey bridge at Jadanga along the Sanfe-Martadi road.

Though the Rural Municipality Office deployed a team to rescue stranded villages, they returned empty handed after failing to cross the river, said Bajura Deputy Superintendent of Police Tanka Prasad Bhattarai.

A team comprising rural municipality vice-chair, Sita Thapa, and police personnel failed to carry out rescue operation on Tuesday as they could not cross the raging river.

According to Bajura Chief District Officer Krishna Gaire, efforts are underway to arrange a helicopter to rescue the stranded villagers.

With their houses swept away or inundated, the villagers have no option but to spend time in the open.

Food Right Network Bajura Chair Madanraj Jaishi stressed the need to provide food to the villagers via helicopter.

Rural Municipality Chair Hari Bahadur Rokaya said he had informed Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa about the situation and expressed hope that rescue efforts are materialized as soon as possible.

Bajura District Police Office stated that the swollen Budhiganga River had washed away five suspension bridges — three of Gaumul Rural Municipality and two of Badimalika Rural Municipality.