Army restores vital route to Ramban damaged in rains

After a vital road connecting Ramban district with rest of the Union Territory was damaged in recent rains, Army engineers have built a Bailey bridge on the Karol–Maitra road stretch. It was virtually inaugurated today by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

This road is critical for linking government establishments and villages. Its loss had disrupted daily life, stranding locals and vehicles. The district administration had requested assistance from the Army for urgent restoration of connectivity.

The L-G dedicated the bridge to the people of Ramban. He expressed gratitude to the brave engineers of the Army who had worked tirelessly and under challenging conditions to build the Bailey bridge.

“The bridge is a symbol of hope and the lifeline for around 1.5 lakh people living in Ramban, Sangaldan, and Gool areas. It will boost connectivity and enhance the ease of living,” the L-G said.

Recent natural calamities had severely impacted lives, leading to infrastructure damage, economic hardships and disruption on this important route connecting Gool, Sangaldan and surrounding areas.

The L-G said the bridge would ensure uninterrupted access to essential supplies, medical assistance and emergency services. This bridge underlines the fact that in times of need, the Indian Army always stands with the nation and its people, he added. The washed-away site was located nearly 20m above the Chenab river under unstable cliffs.

An official spokesperson of the Army said, “A team from the Army’s White Knight Corps Engineers was deployed and they executed the launch of a 150ft triple-panel double-storey extra-wide reinforced Bailey bridge, designed to ensure heavy traffic bearing capacity. BRO, NHAI, district administration and Police Department Ramban and other civilian agencies assisted in the early execution of the task.”