After flash floods and torrential rains washed away a rail bridge on the Chakki river in Kangra district, the Army was called in by the civil administration to prevent the at-risk road traffic bridge adjacent to the washed away rail bridge.
Significant sections of the railway bridge on the Chakki river collapsed after repeated flash floods on August 20. The gushing waters caused severe erosion of piers at the Chakki bridge leading to its collapse.
As the rail bridge was washed away, the fury of the water accelerated soil erosion towards the piers of the adjacent 500m roadway bridge. The only way to protect the road bridge, the major link road to Dharamsala from Pathankot, was to divert the forceful waters, the Army said.
At the request of the district administration of Kangra, the Rising Star Corps mobilised a column of heavy earth moving equipment in record time and immediately commenced the operation for diversion of the waters of the Chakki river and prevent further erosion.
Civil equipment of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) were also operated by Army personnel to augment the diversion efforts. Simultaneously, the Army engineers secured the piers of the road bridge using ingenious methods planned and executed over a distance of almost 1000m.
More than 20 heavy earth-moving equipment working round the clock for 96 hours, concentrating all efforts and maximising their output, ensured that the Chakki riber Bridge was made safe. The efforts were also in coordination with the NHAI.
The untiring efforts of the Rising Star Corps in torrential currents exceeding eight knots through deep channels in the Chakki river ensured that a disaster was avoided and the lifeline of Kangra district and a strategically important bridge connecting Punjab to Leh was made safe, it added.
No less than five large villages and several other small villages under the Nuagada Panchayat cross the river at Keshara to avail health, education and administrative services.
As per reports, when the flood comes, the people are forced to take an alternative route that makes them tread for 15 kilometres more to reach the block office at Sorada.
OTV caught hold of some students who were crossing the river in waist-deep water for school. One of the class-10 students, Swapna Gouda said, “We risk our lives every day to reach the nearest school. During floods, people who have resources take the alternative route while poor people like us are forced to stay at home.”
Another student asked, “Who will shoulder the responsibility if I get swept away by the river current.”
As per reports, the foundation stone for a bridge at the location was laid in 2019. However, the work has been marred by controversies halting the work for years.
A local residence alleged, “It has been four years but the bridge is yet to be completed. Locals of five villages under the Panchayat are forced to either cross the river or undertake hours long journey to reach Sorada.”
This matter came to the fore with intellectuals criticising the state government for its failure to construct a bridge in the locality to help students reach school.
According to sources, the panchayat gets disconnected from the outer world during rainy season every year as there is no bridge on Mahendratanaya river over Jamuganda. As a result, they find it hard to cross the river in rainy season in particular. While some skip classes, some risk their lives to reach the school.
On Friday, the steam got flooded due to heavy rain at upper catchment areas. Finding no other go, students asked villagers for help. Villagers rescued the schoolchildren with the help of an electric wire. They tied a rope connecting two ends of the river and rescued them.
The residents of the panchayat had in September last year taken the matter to Patrapur Block Development Officer demanding construction of a bridge, but the latter did not pay heed. Residents including school kids have to risk their lives during rainy season when the rivers receive huge inflows from upstream areas.
Meanwhile, School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash, said he is not aware about the incident. "As media brought it to my knowledge, I will talk to local legislator and District Education Officer to address the problem," said Dash.
As per reports, heavy overnight downpour caused flash flood in the river causing the bridge on the highway go underwater. Communication on the road was cut off in the process.
However, the locals were not surprised at all. They have been witnessing the disaster years on during monsoon with no solution in sight. Even a single spell of rain makes the river water flow over the bridge defeating the very purpose of its construction.
Locals alleged the problem is occurring because of the faulty design of the bridge. The low ground clearance of the bridge makes it vulnerable to flooding even in case of minor rise in the height of the river water during monsoon, they said.
A resident of MV-7 said, “Last evening I had gone to Malkangiri for some work, but I cannot return home now because the bridge which is overflowing with river water.”
“The government should have made the structure a little higher. Anyways, there is still time for the administration to mend ways and make it a little higher so that it becomes motorable during the rains,” he added.
Similarly a teacher who was stuck at the same bridge since morning said, “My school is 25 km away from here. I have been waiting here since the last two hours and I am late for my duty. This is a common spectre here and I am not surprised. River water regularly flows over the bridge with even the slightest of rains owing to its height,” she said.
Officials of the Malkangiri district administration were unavailable for comment.
However, the question remains if the bridge was a result of negligence by the government or engineering lapses.
As per reports, the locals of Bagadi, Badali, Srakapanga, Minamilu, Madiraha, Pudripada, Sugamaha and Bandisapadara villages under the Panchayat have to wade through waist-deep water to cross the Bagadi river which does not have a bridge over it for the commuters to pass.
The demand for a bridge grows shriller every rainy season when the river spates and raging currents make it impossible for the people to cross it. Sans a bridge, they take the help of a cable tied on two trees at both ends of the river and cross it holding on to the cable.
Bhuteswar Burgi, a local who has to endure a perilous journey to cross the river every day for work, said, “From Anganwadi centre to college and daily market, everything is on the other side of the river. Even though we adults could somehow manage to cross the river, it becomes too hazardous for the children to go to school in these conditions.”
Isma Pradhan, a college student who rued the absence of a bridge, urged the government to construct one so that she does not miss her classes more often.
As per sources, the villagers have been demanding to construct a bridge on the river for years but no authorities have allegedly ever paid heed to their plight.
Snigdharani Burgi, a Ward Member from Bagadi alleged, “We have been urging the authorities for a bridge since ages. But neither, the officers nor the public representatives seem to have any sympathy for us.”
Speaking to the media, the K.Nuagaon Block Development Officer (BDO), Sarat Kumar Patra said, “The government has felt the importance of a bridge on the river. We have already informed the Minister and we will try to build a bridge on the river as soon as possible.”
All the three villages are surrounded by two rivers- Kharasrota and Kani rivers.
The miseries of people have been compounded after the approach road built to the three villages near Namtara was washed away some fortnight ago.
As a result, the villagers are facing many hardships especially during medical exigencies and bringing groceries and articles from outside.
Gangadhara Das, a resident of Kalamada Sasan said, "As the village is surrounded by water from all sides, we face many problems. However, a contractor had built the approach road near Namtara which has been washed away in the strong current of the river."
Expressing similar views, Suresh Mallick, another resident of Kalamada Sasan said, "To carry patients to a hospital or purchase grocery, we face problems throughout the year."
The villagers in 2009 had moved the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) over such problems in communication following which the district administration was directed to construct a bridge at the earliest. But due unknown reasons, the construction work for the bridge has not started yet.
"At present we do not have any provision for bridge construction as the river comes under Irrigation department. However, I will apprise the senior officials about such issues for necessary measures," said Jitendra Mahalika, junior engineer, Rural Development department in Aul.
Earlier, Subhasis Mallick, a student of Kalamada Sasan had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017 about the ordeal of his family in admitting his grandmother to a hospital due to absence of a bridge.
He had requested the Prime Minister to facilitate a 108 vehicle to Kalamada Sasan village to get his grandmother admitted to a hospital. But the Revenue Inspector (RI) arrived in the village in a country boat to take the old woman to the hospital.
Some activists of a particular political party had a scuffle with constable Surendra Jank while he was managing traffic at Khan Nagar square. Some hours later, five persons came and thrashed him in which he sustained grave injuries on hand and head.
"They enquired about an alleged scuffle between their associates and cops. As I feigned ignorance about any such incident, they beat me up severely," Surendra said.
A complaint was registered with Madhupatna police regarding the incident, ACP (traffic) Pradeep Dalai said. "Our constable Surendra Jank was on duty at Khan Nagar Square when CM's carcade passed peacefully. Soon after, some unidentified persons reached there and thrashed him," Dalai added.
After a review of the largest bridge in the State accompanied by Health Minister Pratap Jena, Cuttack Collector Nirmala Mishra and DCP Akhileswar Singh, Samantray told media the bridge will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on July 19.
The legislator said, “This is a big gift from the chief minister to people of the twin city."
Built by the Road and House Development Department, the bridge has been constructed at a cost of Rs 107 crore. Construction work of the bridge started in 2011. The distance between Cuttack and Bhubaneswar will decrease by 12 km after the bridge opens for commuters.
The Cuttack Collector said, “This bridge will facilitate better connectivity for people of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar.”
The Commissionerate Police has proposed the State government for establishment of a beat house near the bridge apart from traffic outpost on both the sides.
The Cuttack DCP stated, “Assessment for traffic arrangement is over and soon the service will be open for public,” adding the beat house will come up on the Barang side.
"I would request you to intervene in the matter urgently and direct the NHAI for taking immediate action towards construction of the 2nd bridge over river Brahmani near Panposh on the NH 143 so as to alleviate the traffic congestion on the existing old and weak bridge, in the larger public interest”, Patnaik stated in his letter.
Bringing the sorry state of the old narrow bridge to the notice of the union minister, the CM said the road carries a heavy and congested mining and commercial traffic. "The bridge is in a distressed condition and not adequate to meet the requirement of safe and swift movement of the people and freight", Patnaik mentioned in the letter.
Explaining severe congestion on the old bridge on NH143 connecting Sambalpur and Rourkela, he said movement of coal, minerals and other produces to the steel city are being disrupted. "This would have a detrimental impact on the economy of the State", the letter read.
Meanwhile, Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray thanked the CM for writing to Centre for construction of a second bridge on river Brahmanai, which is a long standing demand of the local people.
According to sources, the incident took place at around 8 am today, while the ill-fated bus was on its way to Kashipur from Cuttack.
The bus lost control and fell off a bridge in which 15 persons sustained injuries, sources added.
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The injured persons have been admitted to hospital. Out of the 15 injured, condition of five is stated to critical.
The directive of the chief minister came during a review meeting on the performance of the Works department at the State Secretariat here.
It was revealed that barring Malkangiri, main road in the remaining sub-divisional headquarters in the state has been converted to four-lane.
Besides, taking note of the heavy traffic rush between Raj Bhawan Square to Nandankanan Square in the state capital, Patnaik directed the Works department to take up survey work for an elevated corridor and a parallel alternative road for this route at the earliest.
“Apart from the elevated corridor, the chief minister directed the Works department to make a survey for an alternative road via Infocity, Niladri Vihar and Sailashree Vihar and submit a report, Works secretary Nalinikanta Pradhan told media persons after the meeting.
He also said the chief minister asked the department to expedite construction of Sohela-Ambapani section road and complete construction of Rourkela-Sambalpur section of Biju Expressway by March 2017.
It was revealed in the meeting that the construction of Gurupriya bridge and four medical colleges will be completed by June, 2017. Besides, construction of a bridge over Mahanadi at Nelson Mandela in Sambalpur and another bridge over Ib river in Jharsuguda will be completed by June 2017 while a bridge over Kathjodi river in Cuttack will be completed by February 2017.
Apart from this, construction of 44 wayside amenities at various places beside National Highway is underway, the meeting was informed.
The Works secretary also informed the meeting that the Works department has spent 62 percent of the total budget allocation for 2016-17 fiscal by November this year, while the remaining allocation would be spent by March 2017.
Among others, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary to chief minister and Development Commissioner were present at the meeting.
"We are hiring 1,000 American workers and opening our next technology-cum-innovation hub in the state of Arizona," said the city-based IT firm in a statement here.
The announcement reinforces the IT major's May 2, 2017 commitment to hire 10,000 Americans and open 4-5 technology-cum-innovation hubs across the US by 2023.
"We have hired 5,874 American workers till date as part of the commitment," said the statement.
"Investment in Arizona is part of our commitment to accelerate innovation for American enterprise by tapping local talent and shrinking the IT skills gap in the marketplace," the statement added.
The Arizona hub will focus on autonomous technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), full-stack engineering, data science and cyber security.
"We will hire graduates from the state's colleges, universities and local techies for the Arizona hub and train them through our curriculum for upskilling," said the statement.
Lauding Infosys for choosing Arizona as one of its tech-cum-innovation hubs across the US, state Governor Doug Ducey said the IT behemoth would enhance the state's efforts to prepare the workforce through training and education in technology.
Infosys President Ravi Kumar said the investment would strengthen the company's ability to deliver IT services to its clients in Arizona and the southwest region.
"The hub will enable us to hire more locals and help our clients compete in digitising the global economy," said Kumar.
Arizona Commerce Authority Chief Executive Sandra Watson said on the occasion that selection of Arizona by the IT firm would enhance the southwest state's reputation as a tech industry leader.
"The IT firm's operation will create high-value jobs and focus on advancing emerging technologies," added Watson.
The Arizona hub will help Infosys to develop cross-functional solutions to business challenges in machine learning, artificial intelligence, user experience and advanced digital technologies, including big data and cloud.
The $10.9-billion firm's other hubs are at Indianapolis in Indiana, Raleigh in North Carolina, Hartford in Connecticut and Providence in Rhode island.
The hiring of Americans is seen as a fallout of US President Donald Trump's executive order on H1-B visas in April 2017 as clients in North America contribute about 60 per cent of the company's software export revenue annually.
A part of the Majherhat bridge between Taratala and Mominpur collapsed around 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday. So far, one person has died and 19 others injured in the accident.
"Our team is still working on the rescue. Overnight and this morning, we tried to dig holes on the concrete slab decks that caved in, to find out whether anyone is still trapped underneath.
"Cameras are also being used to find out what remains below the debris. Removing the rubble would take more time," a member of the rescue team said on Wednesday.
Four teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire brigade and personnel of disaster management teams are at the spot.
Cranes have been deployed and gas cutters were being used for the rescue operation. Three columns of army personnel were also present at the spot.
The West Bengal government has initiated a probe on the incident. "Investigations are going on. At this point, we cannot come to any conclusion regarding the possible reasons behind the accident," a member of the forensic team said.
Pedestrians and commuters in buses and cars who were on the collapsed structure were rescued.
The bridge was the main connector between central and southwest part of the city. Due to the partial collapse of the bridge, traffics has been diverted. Trams services on some routes have been withdrawn, a Kolkata Traffic Control official said.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was in Darjeeling at the time of the accident, has said: "Four-five labourers used to stay in a temporary tin shed under the bridge. If they were there during the collapse, it is possible that something unfortunate may have happened to them."
Goods vehicles have not been allowed to enter the city between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.
State government will pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of Soumen Bagh, who died in the accident.
State Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim said on Tuesday that heavy construction work of the metro project beside the collapsed bridge could have weakened its pillars.
City metro railway authority, however, have ruled out any such possibility.
Amid blame game over the partial collapse of the bridge the Eastern Railway said it was not conducting any maintenance work at the accident site.
However, experts said the bridge was very old and any structural defect or use of inferior quality of material as the reason behind the collapse cannot be attributed.
The bridge has been withstanding heavy vehicles for more than 40 years. The only reason that may trigger the collapse could be "lack of maintenance".
According to a state official, the 40-year-old bridge was constructed by the Kolkata Port Trust and maintained by State Public Works Department.
"Dreams come true. I just cannot express the joy in words. We were waiting for the moment for many years. Their performance will motivate youngsters to involve with the game which is probably the most scientific mind game," Ray told IANS over phone.
According to him, bridge is a "mind game" with a higher number of permutation and combinations compared to chess.
He, however, lamented that the game was never in the limelight as compared to cricket or chess as card games have a stigma of gambling.
"Asian Games success has attracted media attention which I have never noticed earlier. I keep on getting phone calls from your fraternity after the news surfaced and it will bring awareness among youngsters. This success will change the mindset of the people," said Ray, one of the selectors of the national team.
Bardhan's daughter Pratirupa Bardhan was excited. "We knew that my father is one of the leading players as he had won various competitions earlier but this victory at such a big platform is very special," she said.
She further said that the support and encouragement Bardhan received from his wife was immense as her mother had never complained about his events for which he travels a lot.
"This is a huge gift for me. I have been facing a lot of questions for supporting my husband. I didn't allow him to miss any of his tournaments as I knew that such a golden day was in store for him," said Bardhan's wife.
Former President Pranab Mukherjee too congratulated the team.
"Spectacular performance by the Indian Contingent on the last day of #AsianGames2018. A big congratulations to Amit Panghal for bringing home Gold in 49kg boxing as well as Pranab Bardhan and Shibhnath Sarkar for their Gold in Bridge Men's Pair Event. Well Done," the former President Pranab Mukherjee tweeted.
Speaking on their preparation running up to the Games, Ray said Bardhan (60) and De Sarkar (56) had spent over 10-12 hours a day on the online site and their combination was "excellent" as they know each other for about 20 years.
In fact, they won a tournament recently in Incheon, South Korea where countries from the Asia Pacific region competed.
India secured one gold and two bronze medals-- men's team and mixed team -- in bridge from the 18th Asian Games where the game made its debut.
Ray said the game with the average age of players at 52-53 years in India would provide job security to youth as the Railways, Income tax and Central Excise have been offering jobs to performers.
He is also of hopeful of getting attraction of Indian corporates for setting up incubation centres and requisite infrastructure to groom budding talents in the game.
"Some funds from the Indian corporate sector are being offered. There is a Corporate Bridge Association of India organising the game. I believe the Asian Games Success will help securing more corporate funds towards development of the game," Ray said.
The victims included three women and a man. Two of the women were identified as Apoorva Prabhu, 35, and Ranjana Tambe, 40, while the third was unidentified. The man was Zahid Siraj Khan, 32.
The tragedy which shocked Mumbaikars occurred around 7.35 p.m. as the foot over bridge was reportedly overloaded with commuters hurrying to their homes, the BMC Disaster Control said.
Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the foot overbridge accident in Mumbai. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. Wishing that the injured recover at the earliest. The Maharashtra Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 14, 2019
Connecting the CSMT's suburban platform No. 1 with the B.T. Lane near The Times of India Building and the Anjuman-e-Islam School, it was used by thousands of daily commuters rushing to catch the local trains on Central Railway and the Harbour Line.
The injured have been rushed to the St. George Hospital and G. T. Hospital, besides Sion Hospital, said officials.
On account of the debris, the peak hour traffic towards Byculla and Dadar and beyond was diverted, creating massive snarls across south Mumbai.
This is the third major foot over bridge tragedy in Mumbai in the past 18 months.
A foot over bridge at the Elphinstone Road railway station crashed on September 29, 2017, killing 29 commuters.
The second occurred on July 3, 2018 when a portion of the foot over bridge crashed on the railway tracks near Andheri station, killed at least one and injuring many more.
After the two previous tragedies, the BMC, the Railways and other agencies had carried out a survey of all new and old railway bridges, flyovers, and foot over bridges, to ascertain any dangers and take preventive measures.
Officials claimed that the bridge that crashed on Thursday was found to be sturdy and only needing a few minor repairs.
Politicians from several parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Shiv Sena, the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party and others rushed to the site and activists helped in the rescue operations.
The villagers were forced to take up the work on their own as no step was allegedly taken by the government officials to complete the approach road (332 meters) under the Ranchi-Vijayawada project.
Due to non-completion of the pending work, the villagers were facing lot of difficulties as they had to cover a distance of 100 kms to travel to Andhra Pradesh.
The villagers alleged that despite repeated complaints, the officials did not take necessary measures to complete the work which was pending since past several months.
Tired of government apathy and false assurances, the villagers then decided to fill up a pit and later laid the road on their own. Now light motor vehicles are freely using the approach road, sources said.
In view of the urgency of the situation, Tinsukia District Deputy Commissioner Bhaskar Pegu requested the army to construct a bridge over a water body adjacent to the blowout well, said an OIL official.
"The army is ferrying 17 trucks of material for the bailey bridge from 3 Corps army base at Misamari in the Tezpur district," the official said.
Gas and oil condensate leakage at the Oil India's (OIL) oil well at Baghjan, around 550 km east of here, started on May 27. It caught fire on June 9, killing two OIL firefighters and injuring many others.
Experts from Singapore-based Alert along with ONGC, OIL and NDRF engineers and specialists are making efforts to cap gas and oil leakage and douse the fire, which continued for the ninth day on Wednesday.
All India Radio, Dibrugarh, is twice a day broadcasting a bulletin called "Baghjan Barta" since June 13 to inform people about the progress in capping the well.
According to an official release, OIL lost 6,132 tonnes of crude oil production and 7.97 MMSCMD (million metric standard cubic metre per day) of natural gas due to blockades by locals and student organisations in Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts.
The agitators are demanding higher compensation and have accused OIL of the mishap. The government-owned OIL has provided Rs 30,000 to each of the affected families. Security forces have been deployed at the agitation sites by the district administrations.
Around 7,000 people have been evacuated and sheltered in 14 relief camps as the fire damaged over 35 houses and other properties.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and senior Ministers and officials visited the well site on Sunday and said the affected people would be adequately compensated for losses and action would be taken against those responsible for the incident.
An OIL spokesman said a draft plan for controlling fire had been submitted to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry. Equipment is being brought from different parts of the country.
Locals said the fire had left a trail of devastation in the adjoining areas, including a famous lake. Farms with standing crops as well as ponds and wetlands in the adjoining villages have also been affected.
Experts, environmentalists and wildlife activists are worried as the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, known for its feral horses, is just 2 km away from the well site.
(IANS)
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The incident triggered resentment among locals and they demanded the immediate reconstruction of the structure and a probe into the construction quality.
According to reports, the centring portion of the bridge over the canal caved in while the roof construction was going on.
Local residents alleged that the bridge collapsed due to sub-standard construction work.
“We were so happy that the bridge was nearing its completion. People from nearby villages in the area would have been benefited following the completion of the bridge. However, it caved in due to poor quality of centring work,” alleged Naveen Kumar Biswal, a local resident.
“The government should inspect the quality of the construction work of the bridge. They should take action against erring officials and ensure timely completion of the bridge,” said Sanjeev Biswal, another local resident.
However, the site manager feigned ignorance about the cause behind the caving in besides refuting charges of poor quality of work.
“We have constructed so many bridges in the past, but this kind of problem has never occurred. We are trying to find out the reason behind the caving in of the centring work. Things will be sorted out soon,” he said.