Pics: Spoorthi Ullal/Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Jun 15: Maravoor bridge, vital lifeline of road transport of the city that connects to the international airport, has developed a crack due to heavy rain that lashed on the night of Monday June 14.
The first span of this bridge, while moving from Mangaluru city to Bajpe airport, has collapsed to about three feet depth and staying in a precarious manner. As incessant rains are lashing the coastal districts since three days, the water from the dam above was flowing only on one side.
Locals suspect that the sand mining that is going on below the bridge in the Gurpur river might have led to the crack.
This is the second bridge in the district to collapse within a span of three years. On June 26, 2018 the Mularpatna bridge in Bantwal which connects Mangaluru with Sornadu had collapsed.
It is said that the illegal sand mining that is going on below the bridge is the reason for this mishap. In 2018, Mularpatna bridge also collapsed for the same reason as relentless excavation of sand was going on near the pillars of the bridge, which made them weak and led to the collapse.
Kavoor-Bajpe police are on the spot. Traffic and pedestrian movement on the bridge is completely prohibited.
The mishap caused total disruption of traffic that leads to the airport. It is said that this mishap occurred at around 2.30 am on Tuesday June 15. Traffic is diverted to two alternative routes. Those who want to go to other side of the Marvoor bridge from Kavoor can either use Kavoor-Kulur-KBS Jokatte-Porkody-Bajpe route or Pacchanady-Vamanjoor-Gurpur-Kaikamba-Bajpe route.
Police commissioner N Shashi Kumar, who visited the spot said, “Two pillars of Maravoor bridge connecting Bajpe Airport across the Phalguni river have collapsed. As of now, the bridge is not suitable for vehicular as well as pedestrian movement. Commuters coming from Udupi to the airport should take the Udupi-Mulky- Kinnigoli-Kateel-Bajpe route, while people coming from Kasargod and Mangaluru should take Nanthoor-Vamanjoor-Gurupur-Kaikamba-Bajpe route. The concerned department will visit the spot and take measures. People should cooperate as vehicular movement is completely restricted on the bridge."