Under-Construction Bridge Collapses in Telangana, No Casualties Reported
A portion of an under-construction bridge in Telangana’s Peddapalli district collapsed late Monday night, raising concerns about the quality of the project. The incident occurred around 9:45 pm when two concrete girders, out of five between two pillars about 100 feet apart, collapsed after a strong wind blew in the area. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, as a bus carrying a marriage party of 65 people had passed by just one minute earlier.
The nearly one-kilometer bridge across the Manair river was inaugurated in 2016, but construction was halted within a year or two due to payment issues and allegations of corruption. The bridge was intended to connect Garmillapallu in Tekumatla mandal in Bhupalpalli to Odededu in Peddapalli and reduce the distance between three towns by about 50 km. The cost of the project has escalated over the years, with an additional Rs 11 crore added to the estimated cost last year, despite less than 60% of the work being completed.
Locals have expressed concerns about the safety of the bridge and have been using a temporary mud road under the bridge for the past five years. The incident highlights the need for thorough inspections and adherence to safety standards in infrastructure projects. Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse and have promised to take appropriate action to ensure the safety of the public.
