Under-construction signature bridge collapses in northern India
by Ekta ChaubeyIn a tragic incident in northern India’s Uttarakhand, an under-construction bridge collapsed during the dusk.
The incident took place in Narkota village of Augustmuni block in Rudraprayag district on July 18.
Visuals showed the 110-metre-long motor bridge partially collapsed. The pillars were partially shattered, while the main section of the bridge had completely fallen.
According to reports, the bridge was constructed on the Badrinath Highway between Dhari Devi and Rudraprayag, standing at a height of about 40 metres. It was intended to alleviate traffic congestion caused by the Sirobgadh landslide and was hailed as Uttarakhand’s first curved bridge. Officials stated that the foundation remains intact, and a technical committee will investigate the collapse of its two towers.
Reportedly, the bridge’s construction had been ongoing for several years, with both pillars nearing completion. It was slated to open before the monsoon season, but the timeline was not met. With the collapse, further delays and investigations are anticipated.
This incident adds to the growing list of bridge collapses across the country. In another incident, a bridge collapsed in Uttarakhand’s Ramnagar on July 6 amid heavy rains in the hilly state.
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