Shopian, Sept 19: A critical Bailey bridge connecting Dachnoo village in South Kashmir’s Shopian district with Heerpora collapsed on Thursday morning after two loaded dumpers crossed the structure simultaneously, exceeding its weight capacity.
Executive Engineer of the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department in Shopian, Maqsood Shafi Bhat, confirmed that the bridge, designed as a temporary structure, was not built to withstand the load from multiple heavy vehicles at once.
“A Bailey bridge is a temporary solution for connectivity purposes and can’t endure such heavy weight,” he said. According to Bhat, the drivers of the two dumpers failed to follow the necessary precautions, which required them to cross the bridge one at a time.
“Their negligence caused the collapse, and no construction norms were violated in the building of the bridge,” he clarified.
Following the collapse, Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar, visited the site with a team of officials to assess the situation.
Officials said that the DC immediately instructed the R&B department to restore traffic by clearing the stranded vehicles and constructing a temporary diversion for immediate relief.
They added that the Deputy Commissioner also discussed the construction of a bailey bridge with the Chief Engineer of R&B, Kashmir.
“A team has been dispatched to the site for a thorough assessment, and a replacement bridge is expected to be completed within 3-4 days,” officials stated.
Meanwhile, the local police have registered an FIR and initiated an investigation into the incident.
DC Shopian inspects bridge collapse site
Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar today visited the spot of bridge collapse at Heerpora village, connecting with Dachnoo village across the Rambaira river.
The DC was accompanied by concerned officers and officials of the departments.
The DC assessed the current position and issued directions to R&B department for immediate restoration of traffic.
The R&B was directed for immediate clearance of stuck vehicles and construction of diversion for traffic restoration as an immediate and temporary measure.
Deputy Commissioner also took up the matter of construction of bailey bridge with Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir, who has sent a team of officials for assessment and corresponding construction of bridge immediately. Police has already registered an FIR and investigation is taken up.
