An iron bridge collapsed in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, and a truck crossing the bridge fell into the Sutlej River, even though the driver escaped with minor injuries. The dramatic incident was captured on camera.
The accident occurred on Tuesday near Orni Dank between Rekong Pyo and Tabari on National Highway No. 5 (Old Hindustan-Tibet Road) when a 10-tyre dumper loaded with sand was crossing the 190-feet-long bridge, according to PTI.
Traffic was disrupted on the main road linking Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti after the collapse.
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The bridge collapsed and the truck fell into the river
Officials said the bridge collapsed when the truck was about to reach the other side. They added that the car was overloaded.
The road serves as a major link between Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti district. Following the accident, vehicular traffic stopped for some time, causing inconvenience to passengers. The authorities diverted the vehicles via alternative routes.
SP Sushil Sharma said that the police team led by Tapri SHO rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident, according to the news agency. PTI.
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Rescue the truck driver and take him to the hospital
The truck driver was rescued and taken to a nearby hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.
The Kinnaur administration has instructed the national highway authorities to restore the bridge at the earliest.
Orni Dhank is one of the most landslide-prone stretches in the region, and is frequently blocked by landslides and falling debris and heavy rocks from the surrounding mountains. To ensure connectivity, an alternative route was created in 2016 with the construction of the Bailey Bridge.
Work is also underway to construct a tunnel to provide a permanent solution to the vulnerable stretch and reduce the impact of natural disasters on future traffic, officials said.
The assigned load has been exceeded: Executive Engineer
Executive Engineer of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Rampur Division, Kuala Lumpur Suman said the bridge was being regularly monitored and maintained and repairs were carried out as recently as June 5.
According to Soman, the specified load capacity of the Bailey Bridge is 28 tons, while the 10-tire dumper involved in the accident may have been carrying a load exceeding the prescribed limit.
He added that the exact cause of the bridge’s collapse will not become clear until the investigation is completed.
A team including police officers and technical experts is investigating the matter.
Suman also said that despite the accident, traffic on National Highway No. 5 was not completely disrupted as the old road was restored immediately.
