Pioneer News Service
Daltonganj
A flash flood in Rajdanda river damaged more than 6 decades old concrete bridge barely 6 kms away from Mahuadarn block in Latehar district, Saturday evening. The 3 span bridge measuring 50 to 60 meters in length ipnas on State Highway 9 and is a vital bridge from the point of view of tourism as this bridge is enroute to Netarhat.
DC Latehar Sandip Kumar on being contacted said “There was a very heavy rain here in this region this Saturday. This river went into a spate.” A pillar of this bridge has dangerously sunk causing a downward fall of a slab of it said sources.
SP Latehar Kumar Gaurav told this correspondent “Local Mahuadnr police along with the civil officials reached the site at night and all mode of traffic – vehicular and pedestrian was closed immediately.”
Branches of tree are being used as blockade on this damaged bridge said sources. There is no loss of life either of human or cattle said DC Latehar. Incidentally there was no vehicular traffic on the bridge at that point of time when the flash flood came reiterated the DC.
SP Gaurav said”Residents of Bareysanr and Garu have been warned not to negotiate any causeway as in any heavy rains water over tops the causeway most turbulently and dangerously.”
A team of RCD (road construction department) officials has been rushed to the site informed the DC. The RCD team has been directed to assess the damages and workout plan and estimate for repair or reconstruction.
“The government has sanctioned 4 bridges already here in this region. The administration is keen to execute work of the sanctioned bridges” added Latehar DC. Meanwhile the district administration has advised commuters to take alternate route via Beltoli, Parha Toli, Nagar Pratappur etc to reach Mahuadnr.
Sources said the alternate route is some 10 kms extra only which for safety of life and property is nothing. Local police are maintaining the vigil for aborting any misadventure of commuter on the damaged and fallen one span of the bridge as curious onlookers are thronging the site right from Sunday morning.
This Rajdanda river is a rain fed river and goes into a spate every heavy rains said the locals. Locals say the river over tops this bridge once or twice in the rains but this time it damaged its one pillar bringing a slab of a span touching the river bed.
