Expert teams to study damaged bridge
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 25: Three teams of experts will inspect the Sapermeina bridge on National Highway-2 which has been extensively damaged by explosions, said an official of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to The Sangai Express today.
The teams of experts will visit the site tomorrow and inspect the condition of the bridge.
In the meantime, a diversion road has been made under the supervision of NHIDCL Executive Director Birender Kumar today. Following construction of the diversion road, stranded vehicles have started moving toward their destinations.
It is said that the expert teams would be inspecting the damaged bridge at the initiative of Executive Director Birender Kumar.
Notably, the bridge on Imphal-Dimapur road was damaged extensively by three successive explosions, suspectedly carried out by Kuki militants on the intervening night of April 23 and 24.
The explosions caused massive holes on the bridge in several places prompting authorities to suspend traffic.
While the people and many organisations have termed the attack as an act of terrorism, no armed group has claimed responsibility.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, Public Works Department (PWD) Chief Engineer N Subhash said the bridge has suffered serious damage in the explosions.
Citing NHIDCL General Manager's assessment, the Chief Engineer said large beams which support the bridge have been damaged, and it may be very difficult to repair.
A new bridge may be built in place, however, this is not the final assessment. The exact condition of the bridge will be known after the experts' assessment, he said.
Meanwhile, the NHIDCL is mulling the viability of using large culverts to maintain flow of traffic while the bridge is repaired or reconstructed, he said.
Using culverts is viable but risky, specially during the rainy season when rivers run in full. Excess water in the river may carry away the culverts. NHIDCL has been asked to take up all necessary measures to avert such a situation, said the Chief Engineer.
IMPHAL, Apr 25: Three teams of experts will inspect the Sapermeina bridge on National Highway-2 which has been extensively damaged by explosions, said an official of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to The Sangai Express today.
The teams of experts will visit the site tomorrow and inspect the condition of the bridge.
In the meantime, a diversion road has been made under the supervision of NHIDCL Executive Director Birender Kumar today. Following construction of the diversion road, stranded vehicles have started moving toward their destinations.
It is said that the expert teams would be inspecting the damaged bridge at the initiative of Executive Director Birender Kumar.
Notably, the bridge on Imphal-Dimapur road was damaged extensively by three successive explosions, suspectedly carried out by Kuki militants on the intervening night of April 23 and 24.
The explosions caused massive holes on the bridge in several places prompting authorities to suspend traffic.
While the people and many organisations have termed the attack as an act of terrorism, no armed group has claimed responsibility.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, Public Works Department (PWD) Chief Engineer N Subhash said the bridge has suffered serious damage in the explosions.
Citing NHIDCL General Manager's assessment, the Chief Engineer said large beams which support the bridge have been damaged, and it may be very difficult to repair.
A new bridge may be built in place, however, this is not the final assessment. The exact condition of the bridge will be known after the experts' assessment, he said.
Meanwhile, the NHIDCL is mulling the viability of using large culverts to maintain flow of traffic while the bridge is repaired or reconstructed, he said.
Using culverts is viable but risky, specially during the rainy season when rivers run in full. Excess water in the river may carry away the culverts. NHIDCL has been asked to take up all necessary measures to avert such a situation, said the Chief Engineer.