SRINAGAR: The District Development Commissioner, Mohammad Shahid Saleem Dar, visited Dachnoo village to inspect the newly constructed Bailey bridge, which was swiftly built following the collapse of the previous structure. The Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department of Shopian completed the project in just six days, ensuring the vital link between Dachnoo and Heerpora was restored promptly.
The original bridge collapsed on September 19, when two overloaded dumpers crossed the structure simultaneously, exceeding its weight capacity. According to Executive Engineer Maqsood Shafi Bhat, the Bailey Bridge, designed as a temporary solution, was not intended to support such heavy loads. “The negligence of the drivers, who failed to follow the safety precautions of crossing one at a time, led to the collapse,” he explained.
Following the incident, Deputy Commissioner Dar, along with a team of officials, visited the site to assess the damage. Immediate action was taken to clear the stranded vehicles and provide temporary relief through a diversion. The construction of the new Bailey bridge was initiated shortly after, with the R&B department working expeditiously to meet safety standards.
Dachno-Heerpora bridge reconstruction at Shopian completed today within record 6 day time.
DDC Shopian Inspects newly made bailey bridge,re connecting Dachno village with Heerpora.@dmshopian @OfficeOfLGJandK@mssd1978 @DivComKash pic.twitter.com/NGedqcNzLQ
— District Shopian Official (@dmshopian) September 25, 2024
The newly installed bridge has now resumed traffic, benefiting local commuters who depend on the route for daily travel. The Deputy Commissioner lauded the prompt efforts of the R&B department, highlighting the importance of ensuring safe and efficient infrastructure.
An investigation into the incident has been launched, with the local police registering an FIR to address the negligence that caused the collapse.