Anandapur: A bridge over the Kukurua nullah on the Tartara–Kantipal main road in Keonjhar district’s Anandapur block collapsed Saturday morning, cutting off travel for residents of five panchayats who depend on the route.
Residents said the bridge had developed cracks months back, but despite repeated complaints no repair work was taken up. Heavy vehicles had already been avoiding the route due to safety concerns.
According to villagers, the bridge had sustained damage during the monsoon nearly three months ago. They had informed the sarpanch and also highlighted the issue through the media, warning that the structure was unsafe.
Since then, locals had been restricting heavy vehicles from crossing the bridge. However, a bore-well truck crossed the bridge, and shortly afterward, the structure gave way Saturday morning.
A major accident was narrowly avoided, but the collapse has left thousands of residents from Kantipal, Tartara, Kathakata, Shalabani and Baunshgad panchayats stranded.
PNN
