Bijanbari, Oct. 23: It was a matter of few steps that separated life from death.

Santosh Chhetri had milked his cow much earlier than usual yesterday before leaving for Chungthung Tar with wife Chandrakumari and their six-year-old daughter Anusha.

The family from Lungchowk, 6km from here, had gone to see a cultural programme.

“The crowd was huge and my wife thoroughly enjoyed the show. But after sometime, we started crossing the bridge as I thought my daughter would enjoy the village fair more. I was also eager to go to the fair,” said 45-year-old Chhetri.

The fair was being held at Bijanbari, on the other end of the bridge.

The Chhetris had barely walked four steps after crossing the bridge on the Little Rangit when they heard a loud thud followed by screams and cries.

Chhetri recounted that he fell to the ground as the steel cables of the suspension bridge vibrated. “I can’t recollect if my wife and child were also thrown to the ground. My mind was completely blank and even now, I cannot remember how I met them later,” Chhetri said.

The three met after “quite sometime” and Santosh sent his wife and daughter home while he stayed back to help rescue people.

“The lights went off immediately. People were screaming and crying all around and I tried my best to help,” said Chhetri who came to the banks of the Little Rangit this morning.

“I am not feeling well even today. I have this strange feeling going through my body,” said the farmer.

Mohammed Afsar Alam, who was at a nearby shop at the time of the tragedy, recounted what he had seen.

“I was in my shop when I suddenly heard the bridge give away. My immediate thoughts were about the seven members of my family, my three daughters, wife Saijadi Khatoon, two nieces and my brother Samir Ansari. I tried to contact my brother but could not get through. But soon he called me up to say they were all fine,” said the tailor.

Relieved after the call, Alam rushed to help rescue the affected people.

“I and my friends pulled out six bodies from the river. Everyone present there pitched in to help. Even private car were used to ferry people to the hospital,” said Alam.

Dhan Raj Rai was also among the fortunate ones.

“I think I had walked on the bridge for about 20seconds when it collapsed. I am lucky to have survived. Had I walked a bit faster and taken a few more steps I would probably have fallen straight into the river,” said the 20-year-old.