Cuttack: The district administration has clamped prohibitory orders at the hanging bridge near Dhabaleswar temple in Athgarh of Odisha’s Cuttack district to carry out its repair work.
Athgarh sub-collector informed that prohibitory order under Section 144 has been imposed for repair of the hanging bridge at the shrine. The order will remain in force for indefinite period, he added.
Earlier in the day, the district administration had closed the bridge for one day. Cuttack district collector informed that a technical team had submitted its report on the hanging bridge. As per its report, the officials of the district administration will inspect the bridge to assess its stability and check any weaknesses that may pose threat to the people using it.
It had also decided to deploy Fire personnel and ODRAF team to prevent entry of the visitors to the shrine and advised the people to visit the temple on boats. The 254-metre suspension bridge leads to Dhabaleswar temple on an island in Mahanadi river in Athagarh of Cuttack district.
The technical team, it its report, had detected cracks at 12 joints in the bridge. A team of technical experts and government officials had carried out the inspection. The hanging bridge has been closed to repair the cracks, sources said.
It may be noted that thousands of devotees use the bridge to cross the Mahanadi to observe ‘Bada Osha’ at Dhabaleswar temple. This year, it will be observed on Sunday.
Also Read: Dhabaleswar Hanging Bridge In Odisha’s Cuttack To Remain Closed For A Day
