Dehradun: Approach road to Rs 16-crore bridge caves in 16 days after opening
Sixteen days after a Rs 16-crore bridge was opened to the public in Dehradun, part of the road approaching it caved in on Tuesday, creating a large crater just ahead of the bridge.
The bridge over the Tons River in Nanda Chowki was opened to the public on July 12. The cave-in occurred due to heavy rainfall, which washed away the soil beneath the approach road, forming a cavity that eventually collapsed.
Rajesh Chandra, Head of Department at the Public Works Department (PWD), stated that water entered the structure, creating a vacuum and a cavity beneath the approach road. District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan inspected the site and instructed PWD officials to repair the damaged portion and restore traffic within three hours. He also directed that action be taken against the concerned official for negligence.
The incident highlights infrastructure vulnerabilities in regions prone to heavy rainfall. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation to prevent such occurrences in the future.
