MANDI: A portion of a cantilever slab of an under-construction bridge on the Mandi-Pandoh four-lane highway in Himachal Pradesh collapsed late Wednesday (May 21, 2025) night while concrete was being poured.
The incident occurred near Sambhal, but authorities confirmed that the main bridge structure remains completely intact.
According to information received, the bridge is being built as part of the ambitious Kiratpur-Manali four-lane project. During the late-night construction work, 10-foot-wide cantilever slabs were being added on both sides of the bridge to form pedestrian pathways. However, a welding joint in the shuttering support system beneath one slab reportedly gave way, causing a partial collapse.
KMC under fire again over quality concerns
The construction is being carried out by KMC, a company frequently under scrutiny for alleged lapses in quality. This latest incident has reignited public concerns about whether the construction is being conducted to proper standards. Local observers and commuters have questioned the reliability of infrastructure being developed in the region.
Responding to the incident, Vivekanand Jha, Senior Quality Head of KMC, assured that there is no compromise on construction quality.
“The slab collapsed due to the failure of one shuttering support’s weld. The rest of the bridge is structurally sound, and the damage is already being addressed. All work is being carried out as per engineering standards,” he said.
NHAI orders immediate repairs
Varun Chari, Project Director of the Kiratpur-Manali Four-Lane Project, also confirmed the structural safety of the bridge.
“Only a minor portion of the structure was affected. The main body of the bridge is completely safe. Instructions have been issued for immediate restoration of the damaged section,” Chari said.
Despite the incident, officials confirmed that construction work remains on schedule, and the bridge will be completed within the stipulated time frame.
KMC has been engaged in constructing a significant stretch of the four-lane highway from Nagchala to Pandoh. Over the past few years, several concerns have been raised about the quality and pace of the construction under this project, said a Mandi resident. With Wednesday night’s incident, the debate over engineering standards and contractor accountability has once again come into the spotlight, he said.
Munish Sood
