Massive traffic jam from Lakhanpur to Samba
Tarnah bridge may take 4-5 months in restoration: PD
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 27: Thousands of passengers including a large number of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims, have been caught in massive traffic jam from Lakhanpur to Samba after the authorities closed another bridge near village Chakra, on river Tarnah on Old Samba-Kathua road for heavy traffic after this bridge developed minor cracks due to plying of heavy traffic since July 19, when main bridge over Tarnah near Dayala Chak on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway was damaged with flash flood in the river.
Official sources told the Excelsior that both the Tubes of the Jammu- Pathnakote National Highway, right from Lakhanpur (Ravi bridge) up to Samba (Mansar Morh), including part of diversion route from Chadwal Morh-Sanji Morh- Chaktra-Londi- Rajpura- Ghagwal etc, were totally blocked for the last 5-6 hours as hundreds of loaded trucks, trailers and other heavy goods carriers have been stopped on this route. With this the movement of other medium and light motor vehicles has also been badly affected. Many passenger buses and other vehicles including those of Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrims, have been caught in worst ever traffic jam, since this evening.
Sources said that another bridge over river Tarnah near Chakra and Sanyal villages, about 6 kms down stream the existing main bridge on Jammu-Pathankote National Highway near Dayalachak, developed some cracks. The local Police and Traffic Police authorities came to know about the development today. They took up the matter with the Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Dr Rakesh Minhas and SSP Kathua and senior Traffic Police officials.
Later, Deputy Commissioner Kathua along with SSP, Shivdev Singh and some other officials visited the bridge site and directed the police and traffic police authorities to close this bridge for the movement of heavy goods carriers/trucks, trailers etc. The authorities are diverting these heavy vehicles from Lakhanpur to Dhar Road. The passenger buses are being allowed on this bridge.
Sources said that load bearing capacity of this bridge on old Samba-Kathua road is not much and very heavy traffic is moving on it since July 19. Therefore, some cracks have been developed. Tomorrow, some senior officers from Jammu are paying visit to the site, the sources added.
Deputy Commissioner, Kathua Dr Rakesh Minhas when contacted said for precautionary measures, the heavy traffic (loaded goods carriers) is being diverted to Dhar Road from Lakhanpur (At Basohli Morh). Minhas said he along with SSP Kathua and other officials visited the site and later took decision to divert the traffic. “The bridge, as such has not suffered any `visible damage’, but we want to take precautions. It will also reduce traffic load on this alternative border road,” the DC maintained.
Project Director, National Highway Authority of India, Jammu-Pathankote Sector, Yashpal Singi Jadon said it may take at least 4-5 months to restore about 60 mt portion of damaged bridge on National Highway near Dayalachak. He said his engineers tried to raise temporary bridge and had done lot of work, but in yesterday’s flood, a portion was washed away. He said they will again try to raise this temporary bridge using old river-bed culvert alignment. If weather remained favourable for 4-5 days, they will be a able to restore double-lane temporary bridge at this place, the PD claimed.
It is pertinent to mention here that Tarnah bridge near Dayalachak on Jammu- Pathankote National Highway was damaged, stalling movement of traffic on this busy highway on July 19 morning, after flash flood in the river. The heavy flood in river Tarnah during early morning hours damaged three piers of 580 mts long bridge between Dayalachak and Chadwal Morh stations, on Jammu-Pathankote-Delhi National Highway, suspending movement of traffic at around 6 am. After the three piers slightly tilted and sank, the police and traffic authorities rushed to the spot and closed the bridge.
The vehicular traffic on both sides of this bridge came to halt and long traffic jam was created along the highway. Later, the Traffic Police authorities and District Administration diverted the traffic via Chadwal-Sanji Morh to Hiranagar and Londi -Koota Morh along Old-Samba-Kathua road. Massive traffic jams were created at many places as this road is not so wide.
The locals said that hardly few days ago, due to heavy flood in Tarnah river, the base of two piers was exposed and it needed immediate protection work. Some NHAI officers though paid visit there but avoided urgent protection work. Today morning, heavy flood in the river caused extensive damage to the piers and this 580 mts long bridge which was constructed hardly 12 years ago by ITD Cementation India Ltd, having engaged the consultancy, G-Eng Advisory Services.
About 60 years old bridge on this river, adjoining the damaged one, is being dismantled for constructing another six- lane bridge for Delhi-Katra Expressway. This was the only bridge rendering service to the two-way traffic on this 4- lane highway. It has been alleged that mandatory Mobile Bridge inspection and tests with regard to strength of pavement/FWD was avoided to save the costs by the agency.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
