The Howrah Bridge suffered severe damage when the wheelhouse of a cargo vessel jammed under its deck yesterday.The extensive damage came to light during an inspection this morning by a high-level team led by Kolkata Port Trust (KOPT) chairman Dr A K Chanda.‘‘The deck of half the bridge was affected following the impact. This has to be repaired immediately. The repair work will take at least two months to bring stability to the bridge. Specialised steel will be needed for the purpose,’’ said a senior Port Trust official.KOPT has contacted the bridge’s original consultants Rendel-Palmer and Tritton, UK over the repair needed. It has also got in touch with SAIL seeking steel that matches the one used during the bridge’s construction in 1943 to replace the trolley-guide under the bridge. Nearly half the 2,150-feet long trolley-guide might need to be replaced.The chief engineers of KOPT as well as Burn, Braithwaite and Jessop companies went on a steamer under the bridge today to take a close look at the deck where the accident occurred.‘‘The trolley-line, where the upper portion of the vessel got stuck, and two stringers were damaged owing to the impact. The experts suggested that a stress analysis test of the bridge be done immediately. Since Howrah Bridge is a vital installation, we have to take the help of RITES of Ministry of Railways to repair the damage. We are even planning to take assistance from. Rendel Palmer and Tritton.’’ an official said.It appears the ship-master of MV Mani is responsible for the mishap. ‘‘He did not follow the time-table and sailed the vessel during high tide, towing another condemned vessel which is against the norm. We have issued a notice to the Ganges River Transport Corporation (which owns the vessel) to compensate the damage immediately,’’ the official said.
