Bridge Collapse in Chamoli Cuts Off Hemkund Sahib and Valley of Flowers
A crucial bridge connecting Govind Ghat to Hemkund Sahib and the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district has collapsed due to a massive rockfall from the mountains. The collapse has completely cut off access to these pilgrimage and trekking destinations, along with isolating nearby villages from the main route. Tragically, one person lost his life in the accident. The victim has been identified as Joginder Sharma (34), son of Paras, a resident of Sudama Nagar, Beria police station, Bettiah district, Champaran, Bihar. Joginder, a carpenter by profession, was traveling from Pulna to Govind Ghat when the landslide occurred. As he was approaching the bridge, rocks suddenly came crashing down, leading to the fatal collapse. Chamoli District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari stated that following the incident, teams from SDRF, the local administration, health department, and public works department were immediately dispatched to the site. The administration’s top priority is to ensure essential supplies and facilities reach the stranded villagers in Pulna. Meanwhile, work on constructing a temporary bridge has already begun to restore connectivity.
Bridge Collapses Into Alaknanda, Cutting Off Key Routes
The motor bridge at Govind Ghat, which was built in 2015, was completely destroyed as the falling rocks caused it to plunge into the Alaknanda River. With its collapse, Pulna village, Hemkund Sahib, and the Valley of Flowers have lost their main access route. Sadly, one person was crushed under the debris. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. In the past 17 years, bridges built over the Alaknanda at this location have collapsed three times due to landslides and natural disasters. As per reports, the disaster took place around 10 AM on Wednesday, when a large chunk of rock broke away from the mountains and fell directly onto the suspension bridge (which was supported by cables) spanning the Alaknanda River. The force of the impact caused the entire bridge, along with massive boulders, to crash into the river. While the Pulna side of the bridge completely collapsed, the Govind Ghat side now hangs precariously at an angle. Authorities have stated that a 110-meter-span Bailey bridge is required to restore movement in the region. Instructions have been given to prepare a proposal for its construction.
