Sunday, Mar 16, 2025 10:00 [IST]
Last Update: Saturday, Mar 15, 2025 16:58 [IST]
GANGTOK, : Connectivity to Dzongu and beyond in North Sikkim was disrupted for
the day after an alleged overloaded truck damaged the bailey suspension bridge
at Phidang on Saturday morning.
Immediate
repair works during the day allowed movement of vehicles in the afternoon hours
through the bridge.
The
320-feet bailey suspension bridge at Phidang – the entry point to Lower Dzongu
– is at present the only accessible route to Dzongu region and serves as a
crucial alternative connectivity to Chungthang and beyond. The main route to
Dzongu remains snapped after the 180-feet bailey bridge at Sangkhalang
collapsed earlier this year in February, and this bridge is expected to be
restored later this month.
Post
collapse of the Sankhalangbailey bridge, North Sikkim was connected via
Dikchu-Sangkhalang-Toong axis through Phidang bridge. However, due to severe
damages suffered by Phidang bridge on Monday morning due to the alleged overloaded
truck, connectivity to North Sikkim once again got disconnected.
“Sensing
gravity of situation, Project Swastik has mobilized its technical team to
repair Phidang bridge at the earliest. Normal traffic is likely to be restored
in a couple of days. Project Swastik has once again urged the district
administration to strictly enforce restrictions on goods vehicle movement to
prevent further damages,” said the BRO.
Mangan
DC Anant Jain during the day visited Phidang and inspected the damaged bridge.
It
was informed that the bridge was damaged due to an overload truck, which has
been detained by the police.
The
DC instructed the police to check for overload vehicles strictly. It has also
been informed at the spot that a uniform load restriction will be issued
shortly keeping in view of all the bridges along Phidang-Sangkhalang-Shipgyer
route. The damaged portion of the bridge has been restored and is now open for
all kinds of vehicles, as per the Mangan district administration.
The
BRO Project Swastik looks after the roads and bridges leading to the border
areas in North Sikkim, and had launched multiple bailey bridges to restore
connectivity following the GLOF of October 2023 and cloud burst in June 2024.
Among them, four bailey bridges were damaged due to alleged overloaded heavy
vehicles.
However,
due to movement of uncontrolled overloaded trucks, four vital bridges in North
Sikkim severely damaged/collapsed in recent time, said the BRO Project Swastik.