Traffic turmoil: Damage to Bailey bridge leaves tourists stranded

Traffic has come to a complete standstill on the makeshift Bailey bridge at Mangalore on the Aut-Luhri National Highway (NH-305), after damage to the bridge’s embankment forced a full closure. Bus services between Kullu and Anni, Rampur, have been suspended, while smaller local routes have been diverted, causing widespread inconvenience to commuters.

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Initially, the bridge was closed to heavy vehicles on Monday. However, it was entirely shut to all traffic yesterday as authorities began efforts to extend the structure by installing additional panels to restore its integrity.

The abrupt closure has left hundreds of tourists stranded in the Banjar valley, including hotspots like Sojha, Tirthan and Jibhi. While visitors who arrived by public transport have started making their way back, those in private vehicles remain stuck, currently sheltered in local hotels and homestays while waiting for repair work to conclude.

The National Highways wing of the PWD has begun installing extra panels to extend the bridge near the eroded section. This is a precautionary measure aimed at reinforcing structural stability and ensuring safe passage once the bridge reopens. Until then, all vehicular movement across the bridge remains suspended.

The Bailey bridge itself was a swift, temporary solution — erected in just 27 days and inaugurated on May 9, following the collapse of the earlier structure on April 12. The original bridge gave way under the weight of a mixer truck. In the interim, a makeshift road was carved through a nearby rivulet to maintain traffic, but it caused major congestion and travel delays.

Despite challenging terrain and tight deadlines, the PWD’s technical wing completed the Bailey bridge ahead of schedule. Although Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had intended to inaugurate the bridge during a May 7 visit to Banjar, the plan was scrapped. The structure was eventually opened to the public on May 9 without formal ceremony, responding to public urgency and instructions from higher authorities.

KL Suman, Executive Engineer of the NH Wing of the PWD, reassured the public that the bridge remains structurally sound. However, due to embankment erosion on the Larji side, additional panels are being installed as a safeguard. “This process may take some time,” he said, “but once completed, the bridge will be reopened for all vehicles.”