Iron bridge develops crack in Berhampur

Berhampur: The road communication between Berhampur town and Bhanjanagara via Belaguntha, was today disrupted as the pre-independence era iron bridge over river Boda near Belaguntha, about 75-km from here, developed crack.

The 84-year old bridge developed cracked after a cement laden truck passed over it, said executive engineer, Public Works Department (PWD) Bhanjanagara division Ramesh Prasad Rath.

Senior engineers of the PWD rushed to the spot immediately to inspect its position.

"As it has developed crack, we immediately restricted the traffic over it," Rath said.

Describing the bridge as the lifeline of the area, around 75 meter long bridge over river Boda, was constructed in 1933 and connected to Belaguntha and Bhanjanagara.

Executive Engineer said they have planned for construction of a diversion bridge on the downstream. The diversion work would start from Saturday, he added.