Damaged Bhuntar bridge halts traffic

r Correspondent

Kullu, September 21

The traffic on the Bhuntar Bailey bridge today came to a standstill after its one steel girder developed a crack.

The NHAI authorities carrying out the repair work said the bridge would be restored soon. The bridge connects the Kullu-Manali National Highway and the Bhuntar-Manikaran road — the only link for the Kullu bypass road.

Many vehicles were stranded on both sides of the bridge and commuters were troubled. Anita Sharma, a resident of Chharodnala village on Bhuntar-Manikaran road, said she had to go to Bajaura and was able to reach home through Jarad road after lots of difficulties.

Locals said the damage came to fore only after a military convoy crossed the bridge. They said the NHAI authorities sprung into action and started repair work and halted the traffic. Vehicles coming from Manali were stopped near Mahadevi Teerath temple and those from Mandi were stopped near Kalheli.

The concrete bridge was washed away in the 1995 floods and a Bailey bridge was built in its place. The narrow bridge permitted passage of only one heavy vehicle at a time and thus the area witnessed frequent traffic jams. Besides, it was damaged by a truck carrying heavy machinery in 2008 and was rebuilt in 21 days. The new Bailey bridge having more load capacity was again reconstructed in December 2017. The then Kullu DC had said that the construction of a new concrete bridge would take about one year, but so far nothing has been done on ground.