Yr after collapse, bridge for future

Fifteen-year-old Imtiyaz Shaikh is still to wipe off horrific memories of that Black Thursday. He was among the few lucky children of Nani D...

Fifteen-year-old Imtiyaz Shaikh is still to wipe off horrific memories of that Black Thursday. He was among the few lucky children of Nani Daman and Moti Daman who survived the collapse of 150-year-old bridge on Damanganga river, that left 29 dead last year.

Now reconstructed, the bridge will be inaugurated on Thursday. The bridge will be reopened by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs S Raghupati in the presence of Administrator of Daman and Diu Arun Mathur. The bridge has been reconstructed at a cost of Rs 10 crore. The 180-metre damaged portion has been reconstructed while the remaining 270 metres repaired by the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) and RITES.

Its structural design and stability have been approved by Chennai-based Structural Engineering Research Corporation. Managing director of Omnibus Industrial Development Corporation Deepak Virmani said, ‘‘SERC has tested the bridge for structural stability and now it is ready for public use. ’’

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A high-level probe ordered by the government after the bridge collapsed is yet to be completed. DM and Collector of Daman, M Mudassir said, ‘‘We had taken departmental action against PWD officials. We are now awaiting the report of the government-ordered probe.’’

However, residents of Daman will take a long time to cope with the past. Rakesh Singh, a bar owner in Nani Daman said, ‘‘I hope the reconstruction is up to mark.”

Shailesh Tandel, a fisherman, said, ‘‘It will take children some time before they feel safe while crossing the bridge.”

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

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