M A I N   N E W S

Bridge damaged, vehicles stranded
Our Correspondent

Manali, April 7
A large number of vehicles were stranded on the Manali-Naggar (left bank) road when a portion of the key highway bridge, about 1 km from here, was damaged this morning. About 50-metre stretch of the road was damaged due to seepage on the top of the hill side caused by heavy landslide, causing inconvenience to tourists and local residents.

A view of the damaged bridge on the Manali-Naggar (left bank) road on Monday. — Photo M. C. Thakur

After the devastating floods in 1995, a Bailey bridge — about 160 feet in length — was built by the Army to restore vehicular traffic to Manali via the left bank of the Beas. The bridge was constructed due to the extensive damage to the National Highway No-21 and was later handed over the PWD for maintenance. This bridge has been of great importance as it has remained the only link between Kulu and Manali whenever NH-21 is blocked.

According to the Executive Engineer, PWD, of Kulu (division No 2), all-out efforts were being made to protect the bridge and the immediate plan is to erect an about 60-foot temporary intermediate wall of concrete on the river side to prevent further damage to the bridge. He said it might take at least three weeks to make the Bailey bridge ready for vehicular traffic.

The Chief Engineer, PWD (Central zone), visited the spot and took stock of the protection work being carried out at the site. Besides SDM R.K. Gautam, DSP Arving Digvijay Nagi and Superintending Engineer of the PWD also visited the site. The police has put up barricades near the Beas bridge on the Manali-Kulu (left bank) road. The traffic between Manali-Naggar (left bank) road was diverted via Patlikulh-Naggar.