Featured

Bridge On Kolkata-Chennai NH 16 Collapses In Odisha’s Jajpur; Structural Faliure, Says NHAI

By
OB Bureau

Jajpur: A part of a bridge on National Highway 16, connecting Chennai with Kolkata, sank near Rasulpur in Odisha’s Jajpur district, disrupting vehicular movement on Bhubaneswar-Balasore route on Tuesday morning.

According to sources, people nearby heard a loud sound around 6 am as one side of the bridge on the six-lane highway caved in by about 6-7 ft. “A span of the bridge started to sink after a bus en route to Bhubaneswar crossed the stretch. A big mishap was averted because of the alertness of a tractor drive and a home guard of Kuakhai police station as they stopped vehicles coming on the route,” said a police officer.

The home guard said that a vehicle with Andhra registration number also passed the bridge after the bus. “We then stopped a container truck and then other vehicles also halted. Locals also alerted the commuters taking the bridge,” he added.

On being informed, police arrived there and controlled vehicular movement on the NH between Panikoili and Chandikhole stretch. Hundreds of stranded vehicles were diverted to decongest the traffic on the stretch. The affected stretch has now been barricaded to avoid mishap and the vehicles are moving at a slow pace on the other side of the highway, an RTO official said.

Though the cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained, locals blamed use of low-quality material for sudden collapse of the 20- year-old bridge.

Later, a team of officials of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) inspected the bridge. NHAI project director (Chandikhole) JP Verma told TNIE that the bridge constructed in around 2008 could have collapsed due to structural failure.

“This a sudden failure. Maintenance is not an issue. A technical team has arrived at the spot to ascertain the reasons. A probe will be conducted and action will be taken as per findings. Vehicular movement on this side of the highway will remain suspended till a new bridge is constructed,” he added.

Local channels, quoting NHIA official, said that heavy loading could have led to the collapse and heavy-loaded vehicle might have gone undetected since there is no toll plaza between Panikoili and Chandikhol. The technical team will visit the spot on July 22-23 and the basis of its report, the restoration work will be taken up. Meanwhile, the traffic will be regulated on the available four lanes, the official added.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

Here’s Why Rishab Pant Gifted Scooters To Two Factory Workers

New Delhi: Cricket fans were left gasping for breath in December 2022 when Indian wicketkeeper-batter…

November 24, 2024

ASI To Submit Schedule For Ratna Bhandar Repair Work Today: Odisha Minister

Puri: Repair work of Shree Jagannath temple's Ratna Bhandar in pilgrim town of Puri will…

November 24, 2024

Odisha Activists Rescue 20-Yr-Old Married Woman Trafficked To Maharashtra, Raped For 14 Days

Bhubaneswar: A 20-year-old married woman, allegedly kidnapped from Odisha's Nabarangpur and then raped, and held…

November 24, 2024

India Counted 640 Million Votes In A Day, California Still Counting: Elon Musk Takes Jibe At US Poll Process

New York: Slamming the prolonged delays in some parts of United States, Elon Musk on…

November 24, 2024

17-Yr-Old Bangladeshi Girl ‘Trafficked’ To Odisha Rescued From Cuttack City

Cuttack: Madhupatana Police recently rescued a 17-year-old Bangladeshi girl, a suspected victim of trafficking and…

November 24, 2024

After Mahayuti’s Mahavijay, Who Will Be Maharashtra’s New CM? Here’s What Devendra Fadnavis & Eknath Shinde Said

Mumbai: With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and the NCP alliance emerging victorious in…

November 24, 2024

Driver Burnt Alive As Container Catches Fire Near Laxmannath Toll Plaza In Odisha

Balasore: The driver of a container truck was charred to death after the vehicle caught…

November 24, 2024

80 Arrested In Massive Crackdown On Illegal Gambling In Odisha’s Nuapada

Nuapada: At least 80 people were arrested during a massive crackdown on illegal gambling activities…

November 24, 2024