Dehradun's Rs 16 crore bridge gets big hole in just 17 days after rain; probe on to determine the cause

A concrete bridge built at a cost of Rs 16 crore in Nanda ki Chowki, Dehradun, lost its approach road to a large collapse early Tuesday, just 17 days after it was opened to traffic. The cave-in left a wide crater that severed the bridge from the Dehradun-Paonta Sahib highway, disrupting movement between Dehradun, Vikasnagar and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.

Officials maintained that the bridge itself remained structurally safe and that only the approach road had given way. They attributed the collapse to overnight rainfall that had eroded the soil supporting the road.

Traffic diverted, river levels being watched

With the highway cut off, vehicles were being routed through Jhajhra on the outskirts of Dehradun. District disaster management officer Rishabh Kumar said restoration work would begin once the water level in the Tons River receded enough to allow soil filling to be carried out safely. Irrigation department personnel were also stationed at the site to regulate the river's flow and prevent further damage.

Built to replace a bridge that killed 14

The structure had been inaugurated on July 12, well past its original deadline of April 30. It was constructed to replace an earlier bridge at the same location that was washed away last September, a disaster in which 14 people died.

Investigation ordered, action promised

District magistrate Ashish Chauhan took cognisance of the collapse and directed officials to fix responsibility if lapses in construction or execution were established. PWD secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey said the chief engineer of the regional office had been asked to investigate the cause, fix responsibility and submit a report with supporting evidence to the government within three days. He added that any delay was unacceptable, that appropriate action would follow if negligence by officials or contractors was confirmed, and that restoring the road remained the department's top priority. On instructions from the chief minister, clarifications were also sought from the concerned officials and the contractor, following which Chauhan ordered action against those found responsible.

Residents, opposition slam construction quality

The collapse drew sharp criticism from local residents and opposition voices, who questioned the standard of construction given the considerable cost involved. Social activist Anoop Nautiyal accused the authorities of evading accountability, pointing out that the bridge had taken nearly a year to complete at a cost of ₹16 crore, only for a large sinkhole to appear within days of its opening. He said the public was angry over the poor quality of infrastructure and asked whether the PWD minister should be held accountable.

Traffic restored through temporary fix

The district administration later said temporary repairs had been carried out and traffic on the stretch had been restored.

(With inputs from TOI)