A portion of an under-construction bridge in Telangana’s Peddapalli district collapsed on Monday night, luckily avoiding any casualties. The collapse occurred around 9.45 pm when two concrete girders out of five between two pillars, approximately 100 feet apart, gave way due to strong winds. The nearly one-kilometer bridge across the Manair River was inaugurated in 2016 and was intended to connect three towns, reducing the distance between them by 50 km. However, the work on the bridge was reportedly halted within a year or two due to payment disputes between the contractor and the government. Despite being incomplete, villagers had been using a mud road under the bridge for the past five years. The cost of the project has escalated over the years, and an additional Rs 11 crore was added to the estimated cost last year, even though less than 60% of the work has been completed.