Ambala/Yamunanagar, July 20
Four persons drowned and three vehicles were washed away after a bridge on the Kala Amb-Shahbad state highway collapsed this afternoon.
The incident took place at about 12.10 pm when two spans of the bridge across the Markanda river located near the Kala Amb barrier collapsed. Vehicles were plying on the bridge when it suddenly collapsed. A Tata 407 vehicle, a Tavera and a motorcycle fell into the river which was in spate.
One could barely see the Tata 407 in the swirling waters. The bridge had collapsed at span number three. It was apparent that the drivers may not have even got the time to react when the bridge collapsed.
The Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, Mr O.P. Langyan, who was at the spot, said four bodies had been recovered so far and rescue operations were under way. “We believe that a flashflood from Himachal led to the heavy water flow in the Markanda. This could have led to the collapse of the two spans of the bridge,” he said.
“About three days ago, a meeting had taken place in which I had directed B&R officials to take prompt steps to strengthen the bridge. We had observed that the bridge was weak at certain points and heavy traffic was plying on the bridge. Even before the work could begin, this unfortunate incident has taken place,” he said.
Mr Langyan said they had taken the assistance of the Army in carrying out search and rescue operation. An Army recovery van had also been called for the purpose and an alternative route over the Roon river had been opened for traffic, he added.
Brig A.K. Bakshi, PH&HP(I) Sub-Area Commander, said Army rescue teams were searching for survivors. The search operations are being coordinated by the Commanding Officer of Special Forces.
He said the family of a soldier was travelling in the Tata 407 which fell into the river. “One woman's body has been recovered, who we believe is the wife of a jawan, Khetri. The driver and co-driver of the Tata 407 managed to swim to safety,” he said.
He said the Tata 407 was carrying goods of the jawan and a Subedar who had been transferred. While the Subedar took a train, the jawan, along with his family, was travelling by the Tata 407. They had started their journey from Dehra Dun.
The Yamunanagar MLA, Dr Krishna Pandit, said four bodies had been recovered. “The four occupants of the Tavera, including Mr Ravi Mishra and Mr Ram Vohra, are fine. The Tavera occupants are ONGC personnel who were travelling from Dehra Dun to Manali for a conference,” she said.
She had spoken to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in this regard. “I have urged that
compensation must be granted to the victims,” she said.Three persons who were seriously injured in the incident have been shifted to the PGI. “One of them had head injury while another person had nasal bleeding. They have been referred to the PGI,” she added.
Naraingarh SDM Devender Kaushik said the bodies of the jawan, his wife and their four-year-old daughter had been recovered. The fourth person whose body had been recovered probably hailed from Rasoolpur village in Yamunanagar district.
Naraingarh MLA Ram Kishen said efforts were under way to trace the others who had been washed away.
In September 2005, four spans of this bridge had been damaged. It had taken about a month to repair. The bridge was about four decades old.
