JAJPUR: Vehicular movement on the busy National Highway 16 connecting Kolkata and Chennai was disrupted after a portion of a bridge near the Rasulpur block office in the Jajpur district caved in on Tuesday morning. However, no casualty has been reported.
A tractor driver first noted that one side of the bridge on the six-lane highway collapsed making a huge sound. He then blocked the road by parking his vehicle and guided other vehicles which were on the route diverting them to an alternative road.
“I was proceeding towards Kuakhia from Khanditar on my tractor on NH-16 at about 6 am on the day. After crossing Satsang Vihar, I heard a loud sound just 100 meters ahead of my vehicle and saw a portion of the bridge on NH-16 collapse. So I blocked the NH by putting my tractor near the incident site and guided the vehicles coming on the route to take the other side road of the NH as this stretch is a six-lane road,” Baina, the tractor driver said.
Locals too rushed to the site and informed Kuakhia police. After police arrived, vehicular movement was diverted and controlled between Panikoili and Chandikhole stretch. The affected stretch has been barricaded to avoid mishap.
“Traffic was diverted to make the smooth movement of vehicles through the other side of the highway. Police personnel have been deployed on both sides of the collapsed bridge to divert vehicles,” said IIC of Kuakhia police station, Srikant Kumar Barik.
On being informed, a team of officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) visited the spot and inspected the bridge. Although the exact reason behind the collapse is yet to be ascertained, NHAI project director (Chandikhole) Jai Prakash Verma said it could be due to sheet failure.
“Preliminary investigation suggests a portion of the bridge constructed in 2007 has collapsed due to sheets failure. I have visited the spot to take stock of the situation. A technical team has reached the spot to ascertain the reasons behind the collapse. A probe will be conducted and action taken as per the findings,” he said, adding, vehicular movement on this side of the highway will remain suspended till a new bridge is constructed.