Agra-Gurugram bridge caves in near Badoli

Tribune News Service
Faridabad, September 21

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A bridge built in 1960 on the Gurugram and Agra canals passing near the Badoli village in the city collapsed today. As it was not being used, the incident did not result in any injury or damage.

Maintained by the irrigation departments of Haryana and UP, the 10-foot-wide bridge made of bricks was the main connecting point between Badoli and adjacent villages in eastern (Neharpar) area till about two years ago. Though it was officially closed around two years ago, pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheeler riders had been using it often.

“We completely stopped any movement on the bridge this morning as we noticed signs of collapse,” said an employee of the contractor engaged in construction of an alternative bridge adjacent to it.

He said as barricades had been put to halt the movement, the bridge collapsed around 11.30 am with no loss of life or property.

Virender Rawat, Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department, said: “As the department took up the construction of a new double-lane bridge in 2018, the old one had been closed for all.”

Claiming that the part of the new bridge on the Gurugram canal had already been constructed, he said the UP Government was still working on the remaining portion on the Agra canal flowing parallel and adjacent to the Gurugram canal.

“The piling work done near the bridge perhaps led to its collapse,” he said, adding that it had to be removed any way as it was not being used.