Cracks widen on ‘unsafe’ Rahon–Machhiwara bridge in Punjab as tipper trucks continue to ply: ‘Disaster waiting to happen’

Findings submitted to govt

The PWD had already conducted a structural survey of the bridge and had found it to be unsafe. To further assess the damage, a detailed study was carried out by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, whose report last year clearly stated that the bridge is unsafe for traffic, especially heavy vehicles such as trucks and tipper lorries. It recommended an immediate halt on the movement of such vehicles on the bridge.

PWD officials have submitted these findings to the district administration and the state government, seeking urgent action. However, despite these warnings, heavy vehicles continue to cross the bridge — particularly during late-night hours.

Unpaved roads along the Sutlej riverbanks are being used to transport sand, which is then loaded onto heavy tipper trucks and routed over the already-damaged bridge. (Express Photo)

Sources and local villagers allege that illegal sand mining is rampant in the areas surrounding the bridge. Unpaved roads along the Sutlej riverbanks are being used to transport sand, which is then loaded onto heavy tipper trucks and routed over the already-damaged bridge, they said. According to sources, while the bridge was designed for a load-bearing capacity of 80 metric tonnes, vehicles carrying loads of up to 200 to 300 metric tonnes have been plying on it at times.

Residents of Mahal Gumana in Ludhiana and the nearby Kanon in Nawanshar have expressed deep concern over the bridge’s condition. Barjinder Singh of Hussainpur village said villagers had submitted written representations to the district administration, along with photographs clearly showing the cracks, but no concrete action has been taken so far.

“This bridge is highly unsafe. A major tragedy can occur any day if the government does not act immediately,” Barjinder said, while seeking a total ban on the movement of tipper trucks along the bridge.

Confirming the danger, Ranjit Singh Sandhu, Executive Engineer, PWD, Nawan Shahar, said the bridge is currently unsafe and the movement of heavy vehicles on it, especially tipper trucks, should be stopped immediately. Senior authorities, including the district administration, have already been alerted in this regard, he added.

However, on the ground, enforcement appears weak. Local residents allege that police presence is minimal and the movement of tipper trucks increases at night, further heightening the risk.

Repair to take months, say officials

Several feet of the bridge’s structure is damaged, rendering it unfit for heavy traffic. PWD officials estimate that the repairs could take months, even if work begins immediately. The bridge’s foundation stone was laid in 2001, and its construction faced several delays, before it was finally completed around 2005-06. Structural problems reportedly began surfacing nearly a decade ago, but were ignored.

Several feet of the bridge’s structure is damaged, rendering it unfit for heavy traffic. (Express Photo)

Speaking to The Indian Express, Ankurjeet Singh, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Nawanshahr, said, “Based on the assessment, IIT Roorkee concluded that the bridge was completely damaged”. He added that while the original proposal was to repair the bridge, IIT Roorkee recommended that it should be reconstructed instead.

The DC further stated that instructions have been issued from time to time to the police department to stop the movement of heavy vehicles on the stretch, and the state government was also intimated, as reconstruction of the bridge would involve a huge amount of money.

“With expert warnings ignored, illegal mining remaining unchecked, and heavy vehicles still rolling over the visibly cracked structure, the Rahon–Machhiwara bridge today stands as a chilling example of administrative apathy. The question troubling residents is no longer if something will happen — but when. Unless immediate steps are taken to ban heavy traffic, stop illegal mining, and begin urgent repairs, the bridge over the Sutlej may soon become the site of a preventable catastrophe,” Barjinder said.