Dehradun, July 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Heavy overnight rainfall damaged the approach road to the newly inaugurated ₹16-crore bridge over the Tons River at Nanda Ki Chowki in Dehradun, disrupting traffic and triggering a political controversy over the quality of construction.
A large crater developed near the bridge approach following incessant rain, cutting off vehicular movement on the key route linking Dehradun with Vikasnagar and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh. The incident has raised concerns among local residents about the durability of newly built infrastructure in a region that experiences intense monsoon conditions every year.
Clarifying the situation, Dehradun District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan said the bridge structure itself remained intact and that only the approach road had suffered damage.
He said emergency response teams and officials were deployed immediately after the incident was reported, adding that restoration work had already begun. Senior engineers were also present at the site to supervise repair and restoration efforts.
The incident, however, drew sharp criticism from the Congress, which questioned the quality of the project and demanded accountability.
Congress leader Sangram Singh Pundir alleged that the damage, occurring within days of the bridge’s inauguration, reflected serious deficiencies in its execution. He claimed traffic on the route had come to a standstill and called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the construction work.
Pundir also sought action against the contractor responsible for the project and criticised the state government, alleging that infrastructure meant for public use had failed within a short period. He further questioned the role of the Public Works Department and demanded answers from the authorities over the execution and supervision of the project.
Officials continue to assess the extent of the damage while efforts are underway to restore connectivity on the affected route.
FOLLOW NOW
