Woman, man fall into rivulet while crossing makeshift bridge in Mandi’s Seraj, rescued

A major tragedy was averted on Saturday when a woman and a man fell into a gushing rivulet while attempting to cross a makeshift wooden bridge in Jhud village of Seraj Assembly constituency in Mandi district.

The incident occurred when Puja Thakur (26) and Tiveder Kumar (26) were crossing a temporary bridge constructed with wooden planks by villagers. Puja reportedly lost her balance mid-way and as she fell, Tiveder, who was holding her hand, also slipped into the fast-flowing rivulet.

Alert villagers, who were waiting to cross the same bridge, immediately swung into action and rescued them. Both Puja and Tiveder are reported to be safe and did not sustain any serious injuries.

After the incident, villagers have renewed their demand for a permanent bridge across the rivulet, as the makeshift bridge poses a constant threat to life, especially during the monsoon season. “Everyday, schoolchildren and villagers carrying essential goods risk their lives to cross the temporary wooden bridge, said a local resident.

The villagers have appealed to the state government to intervene and construct a permanent bridge to ensure the safety of the locals.