An under-construction bridge in Telangana’s Peddapalli collapsed on Monday night after two of its five concrete girders fell to the ground. The incident occurred at around 9:45 PM due to strong winds in the area, according to reports. The collapse was narrowly averted from turning into a major disaster as a bus carrying a marriage party of 65 people had passed by just a minute earlier, escaping potential catastrophe.
Visuals from the scene showed multiple parts of the bridge strewn on the ground following the collapse. The nearly one-kilometre-long bridge was being built over the Manair River to connect Odedu with Garmillapalli village in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district. The project was inaugurated in 2016 with nearly ₹49 crore sanctioned for its construction. However, it had faced significant delays, with the contractor halting work within one or two years due to pressure for commissions and non-payment of dues by the government.
The bridge was intended to shorten the distance between the towns of Manthani, Parakal, and Jammikunta by about 50 km. Despite the original one-year completion target, locals reported that construction had been stalled due to funding issues and other reasons. The same contractor who worked on this bridge was previously involved in building another bridge in Vemulawada, which was washed away during heavy rains in 2021, raising questions about quality control and accountability in the construction process.
The collapse in Peddapalli adds to the growing concerns about the safety and reliability of infrastructure projects in India. The contractor’s past track record and the halt in construction raise questions about the management of public works projects and the need for stringent oversight.
Incidents like this underscore the importance of quality control and safety in public infrastructure projects. Authorities must investigate the collapse to determine its cause and ensure accountability. Furthermore, greater scrutiny and transparency in construction projects are essential to prevent such incidents in the future, especially given the potential risks to public safety.
