Cranes deployed to remove Rhino cruise ship from Narayani Bridge
The vessel was swept from its mooring during flooding and became lodged against a bridge pillar on the Gaindakot side of the river.
Removal efforts were underway after the Rhino cruise ship was carried into the Narayani Bridge by flooding in the Narayani River. The administration said three cranes were being used to pull the vessel toward the riverbank on the Gaindakot side.
The ship was swept from an area in front of Hotel River Crown on Sunday evening and became stuck against a bridge pillar on the Gaindakot side. Its position against the pillar raised the risk of damage to the bridge.
According to the company, the vessel had been secured to trees with two 20-millimeter ropes that broke in the powerful floodwaters. The company said the ropes met international standards, but two trees became lodged at the mooring site and pushed against the ship before the lines failed.
The three-deck vessel weighs more than 70 tonnes, although the company said its effective weight is considerably lower while it is floating. The Rhino is 100 feet long and 25 feet wide, with capacity for as many as 180 passengers.