Early on Saturday morning, a bridge on National Highway 305 in the Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh shockingly collapsed. The unfortunate incident halted vehicular traffic and disrupted connectivity between Mandi and Kullu. The bridge, a vital link constructed in the 1980s at Mangalore in the Banjar Valley, collapsed abruptly when a truck filled with cement was crossing it.
Bridge Collapse Disrupts Traffic In Himachal’s Kullu District
According to the Hindustan Times reports, the collapse occurred without warning. The concrete bridge had served commuters for over four decades. On Saturday morning, it crumbled under the weight of the passing truck. The vehicle fell into the river below, but fortunately, the driver survived with only minor injuries.
He was quickly rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital, and is currently receiving treatment. Following the alert, local police and district administration teams reached the scene quickly. To make sure there was no more risk to the public, the area was cordoned off and preliminary assessments were conducted.
Kullu Deputy Commissioner of Police, Torul S Ravneesh, was on the ground overseeing the situation. According to Hindustan Times, he confirmed that heavy machinery has been deployed to begin clearing debris.
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How Is Traffic Being Managed?
With the bridge out of action, authorities acted fast to provide temporary relief. By Saturday morning itself, a makeshift pathway had been made available to allow local movement. Meanwhile, traffic was diverted via Pandoh, an alternate route, to minimise inconvenience for travellers and locals.
To restore connectivity in the long run, authorities are attempting to install a Bailey bridge, Hindustan Times reported. It is a kind of transportable, prefabricated truss bridge that is frequently utilised in emergency situations. This measure is expected to significantly ease the burden on the local population.
Although a formal investigation is still in progress, it is assumed that the ageing structure is no longer capable of supporting contemporary vehicle loads. Since its construction in the 1980s, the bridge has probably not undergone any significant renovation.
This incident also sheds light on the condition of ageing infrastructure in hilly regions. For now, the quick action by local authorities has managed to prevent a larger tragedy.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva
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