Munish Sood
Kinnaur
A major tragedy was narrowly averted in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district on Monday when a tipper truck became stranded on a damaged bridge connecting Tapri and Choling after a section of the structure gave way during its passage. The driver escaped unhurt, and no casualties were reported.
According to eyewitnesses, the loaded tipper was crossing the bridge when a portion of the deck suddenly caved in, leaving the vehicle precariously stuck in the middle. The incident sparked panic among local residents and forced the suspension of traffic on the route, causing inconvenience to commuters.
The Tapri–Choling bridge is a crucial connectivity link for several villages in the area, and the incident has intensified concerns over the safety of ageing infrastructure in the tribal district. Residents alleged that the bridge had shown signs of deterioration for some time and demanded immediate repairs and a comprehensive structural safety audit.
Following the incident, officials from the concerned department rushed to the site to assess the damage and initiate necessary measures. Authorities have advised commuters to avoid the damaged bridge until it is declared safe and have urged the public to strictly follow safety advisories.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the urgent need for regular structural inspections and timely maintenance of bridges in Himachal Pradesh’s remote and mountainous regions, where deteriorating infrastructure and difficult terrain pose significant challenges to public safety.
