Srinagar, Jul 22 (KNS): In a swift administrative move, the government on Wednesday ordered the immediate closure of a crucial Bailey bridge in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, citing serious structural damage and an "imminent threat" to public safety.

 

Official sources told news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the Lalpora-Kharkhal-Mamoosa bridge, which serves as the sole connectivity link for three villages, has been rendered unsafe after its foundation suffered "severe erosion" due to the relentless gushing waters of the Ferozpora Nallah. The decision follows a site inspection by the Public Works (R&B) department, which warned that the bridge’s pier and abutments have been critically compromised.

 

A communiqué from the R&B department stated that there is a "grave apprehension" that the bridge could be washed away entirely in the event of a cloudburst or heavy rainfall in the upper reaches—a scenario that poses a "direct and grave risk" to commuter life and property.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe Assistant Executive Engineer of R&B Sub Division Kunzer has recommended an immediate halt to all vehicular movement on the structure.

 

"The existing condition is highly precarious. Any delay could lead to a major catastrophe and loss of innocent lives," the official note read, while confirming that the bridge will remain closed until a comprehensive inspection is conducted and the structure is stabilized and declared fit for public use.

 

The development comes as the Kashmir Valley remains on high alert amid the ongoing monsoon season, with several rivers and streams swelling beyond danger marks. Authorities have appealed to the public to avoid the route and cooperate with the administration. Further assessment of the bridge’s structural integrity is expected to be carried out once weather conditions improve, officials added. (KNS)