Part of steel bridge connecting Raichur and Mantralayam collapses, traffic hit for 2 hours

RAICHUR: Iron rods of the inter-state steel bridge over the Tungabhadra river broke and fell, holding up traffic for about two hours on Monday. This is the main bridge on the route from Raichur to Mantralayam and fortunately, there were no casualties.

The bridge connects Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh near Gillesugur in Raichur taluk. Due to the iron rods of the steel bridge breaking and falling, traffic was jammed for two hours. The rods broke and fell due to rust caused by lack of maintenance.

Officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) the spot and reinstalled the broken rods. The public expressed anger over the officials’ negligence and demanded proper maintenance.

The Tungabhadra bridge was washed away during the massive floods of 2009. Later, the bridge was inaugurated in 2012, and now a lack of maintenance is clearly visible, locals rued.