Khurda: A four-decade-old bridge collapsed in Khurda district of Odisha on Sunday, cutting off road connectivity to several villages in the area.
As per information, the incident occurred near Ropada village under Panchugaon gram panchayat in Banapur. The structure disintegrated when a soil-laden truck was crossing the structure.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported, though the truck was stranded midway as the bridge split int
o two.
The driver and helper of the truck managed to escape without any injuries. Fire service personnel rushed to the site after receiving information.
The disruption has severely affected transportation for several villages in the district, including Banapur, Torasingha and Gambarimunda. Locals complained that daily commuting, movement of goods and access to essential services such as schools and healthcare have been hampered, forcing villagers to take long detours.
The bridge stated to be more than 4 decades old had long been in a dilapidated condition. Local residents had repeatedly raised concerns about its safety and demanded a replacement, but their appeals went unanswered.
Sources said another bridge, which was being constructed at the same site and scheduled to be completed by 2022-23, was stopped due to legal dispute.