M A I N   N E W S

Old bridge falls
Bipin Bhardwaj/Rajiv Mahajan
Tribune News Service

Pathankot/Nurpur, August 9
The inter-state Chakki bridge on Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border, known as lifeline of the Kangra valley, was washed in the wee hours today following torrential rain, which flooded the Chakki rivulet last night. The swirling water of the river washed away the pillars along with the slabs thus snapping the inter-state link between Haryal village in Punjab and Kandwal in Himachal Pradesh. A major part of the bridge falls in Punjab.

According to eyewitnesses, a span of the bridge collapsed just after a Himachal Pradesh roadways bus and a canter had crossed the bridge.

Himachal Pradesh police personnel Desh Raj, on duty at the Kandwal barrier, heard a loud thud. Noticing that a portion of the bridge had been washed away, he sounded an alert on the other side of the bridge at Haryal village.

Receiving the information, the administrative officials, including SDMs of Pathankot and Nurpur, along with PWD officials of both states, reached the site.

Meanwhile, traffic heading towards Himachal Pradesh was diverted to the Pathankot-Padhrowa-Kandwal road while that on the reverse route to the Kandwal-Padhrowa-Pathankot road.

The bridge on the Pathankot-Mandi highway, besides being significant for tourism, is of vital importance for the movement of security forces to the Yol cantonment in Kangra district. The bridge also provides an alternative approach to the Kargil sector through the Leh-Manali route. Significantly, the highway also leads to the border with China.

Constructed in 1889, the bridge had completed its life span. The Tribune had highlighted the condition of the bridge recently, but the authorities concerned failed to realise the gravity of the situation.

A foundation stone of a new bridge was laid by union minister for shipping, road transport and highway T.R. Baalu on February 7, but no tender formalities were completed before the stone was laid.

Inquiries reveal that the Himachal Pradesh government, which has been entrusted the task of executing the construction of the inter-state bridge, has recently submitted tender formalities to the union ministry of road transport and highway. However, these were turned down due to some technical reasons.

Residents of the area complained that illegal mining on the Chakki riverbed was a major factor in the bridge collapse.