Gajj khud overflows, Kalasai suspension bridge washed away

Three days of continuous heavy rainfall this week has washed away a suspension bridge on Gajj khud at Kalasai in the Shahpur area of Kangra district, a senior official of the district administration confirmed here on Wednesday.

The suspension bridge, constructed in the 1990s, could not withstand the force of the gushing waters and swept away within minutes in the strong current of water. The collapse of this bridge has disrupted connectivity for residents of several villages, including Bhitlu, Daihda, Kotla, Maniyana and Kut. The bridge served as the only link for hundreds of people to reach the main road every day.

Although an alternate road has been built up to Bhitlu via Chadi, locals say the bridge remained a vital route for pedestrians and workers associated with nearby projects.

Local residents, including Jeevan Kumar and Pappu Ram said that the bridge had been in a poor condition for nearly two years.

“The pillars were partially damaged, but neither the Public Works Department nor the district administration paid attention to it. Due to this negligence, the bridge eventually collapsed,” they alleged.

The loss of this bridge has now forced residents to take long detours or risk crossing the overflowing khud. People fear prolonged inconvenience as alternative routes remain limited. Many villages still lack direct road connectivity, and those who depended on the bridge for work and daily movement were the worst affected.

Kangra District Magistrate Hemraj Bairwa said that he has directed the Public Works Department to assess the damage and prepare a detailed project report along with cost estimates for constructing a new bridge.