Students risk lives crossing river after bridge collapse in Udhampur

The safety and education of thousands of students in Udhampur district remain under serious threat after a key motorable bridge over the Tawi river was washed away in August 2025. Children from more than 10 panchayats are now forced to cross the hazardous Toldi Nallah on foot to reach their schools.

The collapsed bridge, located near Bant village in the Samroli area, had been a vital link for nearly 20 villages. Since it was destroyed by heavy rainfall and flash floods, schoolchildren—particularly young girls and primary students—have been navigating slippery rocks and fast-flowing currents, turning their daily commute into a life-threatening ordeal.

Residents say the loss of the bridge has effectively cut off more than 50,000 people from the Udhampur district headquarters, severely impacting access to education, healthcare, and livelihoods. Locals and students have appealed to the union and J&K governments, and district authorities to take urgent steps to reconstruct the bridge.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Udhampur, Prem Singh Chib, said the restoration of the 80-metre Toldi–Bant bridge requires a complete redesign rather than a simple rebuild. A detailed inspection conducted by the Design, Inspection, and Quality Control (DIQC) team in September 2025 revealed that the river’s course had shifted and the High Flood Level (HFL) had been exceeded, making the original design unviable.

As a result, the scope and cost of the project have been revised. Initially approved under the UT Capex 2025–26 at an estimated cost of Rs 4.50 crore, the project now requires extending the bridge span from 80 metres to 98 metres, increasing the total cost to Rs 5.4 crore.

Chib confirmed that the revised proposal has been submitted for approval. Once the updated design and budget receive clearance, tenders will be floated to initiate construction and restore this crucial connectivity.