16 Kapurthala villages affected after damage to pontoon bridge
STRANDED The bridge gave way when an overloaded tractor-trailer carrying sand crossed over it; two booked
SULTANPUR LODHI : Two people were booked on Wednesday after an overloaded tractor-trailer, carrying illegally mined sand, damaged the pontoon bridge, which connects 16 villages in Mand area with Sultanpur Lodhi.
The accused are Tarsem Singh of Sagra Village and Sukhchain Singh of Passar Village.
The affected villages include Baopur, Dhunna, Baopur Kadim, Baopur Zadid, Bheni Kadamwala, Sangran, Gaurewal, Kishangarh, Ramapur Gorey and Tangra.
A police official, requesting anonymity, said, “The bridge, which was set up by locals to connect remote villages with Sultanpur Lodhi, was damaged in some places due to the excessive weight of the vehicle.”
Around 5,000 people live in the 16 villages spread over nearly 25 square kilometres of the island surrounded by the Beas, which is also known as the ‘Mini Sri Lanka’ of Punjab.
Residents say they have to put their lives on risk each time they have to travel.
Neither two-wheelers nor four-wheelers can ply on the bridge, which has collapsed at some places.
A case under Section 431 (mischief by injury to public road, bridge, river or channel) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Mining Act was registered against the duo.
Meanwhile, a permanent bridge is being constructed to improve the villages’ connectivity. Sultanpur Lodhi MLA Navtej Singh Cheema said the bridge will be repaired soon.
Each year, the villagers are inconvenienced when the public
SULTANPUR LODHI MLA SAYS THE BRIDGE WILL BE REPAIRED SOON AND A PERMANENT BRIDGE IS BEING CONSTRUCTED
works department (PWD) removes the pontoon bridge in July due to the rise in water levels in the river due to heavy rain.