Newly built Dehradun bridge collapses 17 days after opening
A new bridge at Nanda Ki Chowki in Dehradun collapsed just 17 days post inauguration.
Amid heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand, questions have once again been raised about the robustness of infrastructure in Dehradun and surrounding areas. A new bridge at Nanda Ki Chowki in Dehradun, constructed at a cost of approximately ₹16 crore, collapsed just 17 days after its inauguration. Early on Tuesday, continuous rain caused a large portion of the bridge's approach road to cave in, severing the bridge from the Dehradun-Paonta Sahib highway. However, the administration claims that the main structure of the bridge is completely safe and the damage is limited to the approach road.
According to PTI, the heavy overnight rain washed away the soil beneath the bridge, causing a large section of the road to collapse and creating a deep pit. Following the incident, traffic on the highway was halted and vehicles were diverted via the Jhajra route. This caused significant inconvenience to people traveling between Dehradun, Vikasnagar, and Himachal Pradesh. Notably,
the bridge was opened to traffic on July 12. Its original construction deadline was set for April 30, but after delays in the work, it was inaugurated in July. This new bridge was built at the same location where the old bridge was washed away during rains last September. That incident resulted in the death of 14 people, prompting the decision to construct a new bridge as soon as possible.
After the incident came to light, the district administration sprang into action. Dehradun District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan ordered an investigation into the matter, stating that if any negligence in construction work or quality is found, strict action will be taken against the responsible officials and contractors. He also instructed officials to inspect the site and prepare a detailed report.
PWD Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey stated that the department's chief engineer has been directed to investigate the entire matter and submit a report to the government within three days. He said that if initial investigations reveal negligence by any official or contractor, immediate action will be taken. According to him, reopening the road as soon as possible is the department's top priority, and any delay will not be tolerated.
District Disaster Management Officer Rishabh Kumar reported that the high water level of the Tons River initially posed challenges to the repair work. The administration was waiting for the river flow to decrease so that the road could be restored safely by filling in the soil. Meanwhile, teams from the Irrigation Department were also deployed at the site to control the river's flow and prevent further damage.
Following the incident, local residents and opposition leaders have raised serious questions about the quality of construction. Social activist Anoop Nautiyal said,
It is extremely concerning that despite construction work lasting nearly a year and ₹16 crore being spent, the approach road of the bridge caved in within a few days. He said that the public wants to know who monitored the quality of such a large project and who will be held accountable for it. He also questioned whether the responsibility of the concerned department and minister should not be determined in this matter.
However, the administration claims that swift action has been taken regarding the situation. According to officials, traffic has been resumed after temporary repairs. On the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, clarification has been sought from the concerned officials and the construction agency. District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan stated that the structural design of the bridge is safe and the priority was to reopen the road for traffic as soon as possible. He mentioned that the route will be fully normalized if the weather remains favorable.
Meanwhile, the continuous rainfall has also impacted the Char Dham Yatra. In the Munkatia area, debris and stones falling from the hillside temporarily blocked the Kedarnath highway. The administration immediately deployed heavy machinery to clear the debris and attempted to secure the route. Officials stated that the safety of the pilgrims is being given the highest priority.
Rudraprayag District Disaster Management Officer Nandan Singh Rajwar said,
Due to continuous rain, there is a risk of landslides on the Kedarnath Yatra route. Roads can suddenly close at several places, so travelers are being advised to remain extremely cautious. Police, sector officers, and rescue teams are continuously monitoring sensitive locations and stopping travelers at safe places if necessary.
According to the administration, the Yatra Control Room is keeping a 24-hour watch on the weather and road conditions. Based on warnings from the Meteorological Department, travelers, local shopkeepers, and people present on the Yatra route are being continuously alerted through loudspeakers and other means. Officials say that monitoring and security arrangements will continue as before until the weather normalizes.