BRO blames overloaded vehicles for damage to Dzongu bridges

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.