Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, July 30: The much-awaited construction of Bailey Bridge at Kundel for Machhail Mata pilgrims was finally completed today and made open for the movement of pilgrims.
The Bridge was dedicated to the pilgrims by Ashok Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar by inaugurating the public in the presence of senior Army officers and prominent persons of the area.
Given the upcoming Machhail Yatra on the month of July 22, the District Administration had requisitioned the Indian Army to construct this 150-feet-long Bailey Bridge as the existing wooden bridge was not suitable to sustain the heavy traffic of pilgrims.
Indian Army Sector HQ at Kishtwar swung into action and completed all the formalities. 40 Army trucks transported the bridging stores from Pathankot, and stores were man hauled to the bridging site. The Indian Army 54 Engineer Regiment and 17 RR (MARATHA LI), District Administration and NHIDCL Kishtwar jointly constructed the Bridge in record time.
The construction of the bridge came with many challenges as the existing wooden bridge at Kundel was washed away on July 3 due to a flash flood in Bhut Nala, and the water level kept rising daily. However, Army Jawans and local labourers rose to the occasion and completed the construction in two weeks. The bridge’s construction is a unique example of joint manship between Civil Administration, Army and Private entities.
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