Residents have demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident and strict action against those responsible.
Reyaz Rashid
BARAMULLA, June 25:
In a shocking case of infrastructure failure, a newly constructed bridge at the New Bypass near Darul Uloom Cheradri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district collapsed within hours of its reported completion on Thursday, leaving at least ten persons injured and triggering widespread public anger.
According to eyewitnesses, the bridge suddenly caved in shortly after construction work had been completed. The collapse sent debris crashing down, causing panic among workers and people present at the site. The structure had not yet been formally inaugurated or opened for public use when the incident occurred.
Locals alleged that the bridge showed visible signs of weakness before the collapse and accused the executing agency of using substandard construction material. Residents have demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident and strict action against those responsible.
The dramatic collapse has once again raised serious concerns over the quality of construction, supervision, and accountability in public infrastructure projects across the Valley.
Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Baramulla, Dr. Parvaiz Masoodi, said that ten injured persons were brought to the hospital for treatment following the incident.
“One of the injured, who sustained a spinal injury, has been referred to Bone and Joint Hospital Srinagar for specialized treatment,” Dr. Masoodi said.
Hospital sources said the remaining nine injured persons are stable and undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked outrage among residents, who are demanding an impartial probe to ascertain the cause of the collapse and fix responsibility for what they described as a serious act of negligence.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the cause of the bridge collapse. The administration is expected to order an inquiry into the incident to determine whether engineering lapses, poor-quality material, or procedural violations led to the failure of the structure.