BARAMULLA, JUNE 25: A newly constructed bridge at the New Bypass near Darul Uloom Cheradri in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district gave way hours after it was declared “complete” on Thursday, injuring at least 10 persons and triggering fresh concerns over the quality of public works in the Valley.
The structure, which had not been formally inaugurated for traffic, caved in without warning, eyewitnesses said. “There were visible cracks before it fell,” a local resident told Kashmir Convener. The collapse sent workers and passersby scrambling for safety, with the injured rushed to the district hospital.
Dr. Parvaiz Masoodi, Medical Superintendent of Baramulla hospital, confirmed that 10 injured persons had been brought in. “One patient with a spinal injury has been referred to the Bone and Joint Hospital in Srinagar. The others are stable,” he said.
Locals have demanded a judicial probe, alleging that inferior material was used and supervision was lax. “This is not an accident. This is criminal negligence,” said a community leader.
Sources said Chandigarh-based Rajendra Infra Pvt. Ltd. was the executing agency for the project. However, company staff at the site were untraceable after the collapse, and multiple calls by Kashmir Convener to the firm went unanswered.
The incident comes at a time when the administration has been under pressure to fast-track infrastructure development in the Valley, especially on the long-awaited Baramulla–Srinagar highway project.
Speaking to Kashmir Convener, youth leader and social activist Touseef Raina expressed deep sorrow over the unfortunate incident. He demanded a thorough investigation and called for strict action against the company responsible.
Raina also urged a rigorous quality inspection of all major infrastructure projects, particularly regarding materials being used. He emphasized that whether it is a bridge or any other construction work, the safety of the people must remain the top priority—companies may come and go, but these structures are built for the public.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla S F Hamid said strict action will be taken against the contractor and engineers responsible for the collapse. He informed that a special inquiry team has been constituted to investigate how the incident occurred. The Deputy Commissioner assured that within the coming days, appropriate action will be initiated against those found responsible.
Notably, a statement from the project manager of the Baramulla bypass project reads: “This is to inform you that concreting of the slab at the Vehicle Overpass located at Chainage 57+735 was in progress. During the final finishing stage, the nearby excavated soil suddenly slid and impacted the staging system. As a result, the shuttering collapsed. Fortunately, there was no loss of life or any severe injury to any personnel. All workers at the site are safe, and the situation has been brought under control. A detailed assessment of the incident and the extent of any structural or material damage is being carried out, and necessary corrective measures will be implemented.”
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