On 4 June 2025, a 60-metre-long Bailey bridge under construction in Ratgaon village, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, collapsed abruptly as workers removed its support structures. The bridge, costing ₹2.80 crore and spanning the Dhadharbagad stream, fell into the water, cutting off road connectivity for over 4,000 residents.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The Public Works Department (PWD) has alleged gross negligence by the contractor, filing a formal complaint and registering a case at Tharali police station.
In response, the state government has suspended several PWD officials and vowed to hold the contractor financially accountable. Reconstruction work is slated to begin immediately, with officials promising expedited completion before the monsoon season.
Negligence and Accountability Under Scrutiny
According to PWD officials, the collapse was triggered when the contractor’s workers simultaneously removed the bridge’s support structures and tension cables, a critical error that compromised the bridge’s stability. Assistant Engineer Jagdish Kumar Tamta explained, “The supports and tension ropes are meant to be removed in a phased manner. Removing them together caused the bridge to buckle and collapse.”
District Magistrate Sandeep Tiwari confirmed that an FIR has been lodged against the contractor at Tharali police station, and a show-cause notice has been issued to the chief engineer overseeing the project. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has taken a strong stance, suspending three PWD engineers, including Executive Engineer Dinesh Mohan, and asserting that the government will recover the financial loss from the contractor.
“No one found guilty will be spared,” Dhami declared, emphasising the need for accountability in public infrastructure projects. Local residents, while relieved that no casualties occurred, expressed deep frustration and fear over the disruption to daily life, demanding a transparent investigation and swift restoration of the bridge.
A Troubled History of Infrastructure Failures
This incident is the latest in a series of infrastructure failures in the region, which has historically been vulnerable to natural disasters. The original bridge built in 2013 was destroyed by floods, and a Bailey bridge constructed between 2015 and 2016 was washed away during the devastating 2018 floods that also destroyed homes and shops in the area.
The current bridge, sanctioned in early 2024 and under construction for just two months, was intended to restore vital connectivity for the isolated communities of Ratgaon and neighbouring villages. With the monsoon season fast approaching, residents are anxious about being cut off from essential services, markets, and emergency care.
The repeated loss of infrastructure has not only hampered economic activities but also eroded trust in the authorities’ ability to deliver safe and durable public works.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The recurring collapse of critical infrastructure in Chamoli underscores a pressing need for systemic reforms in project management, oversight, and community involvement. While it is fortunate that no lives were lost in this latest incident, the disruption faced by thousands of residents reveals the human cost of negligence and poor planning.
The swift action by the government to suspend officials and pursue legal action against the contractor is a positive step, but it must be accompanied by a culture of transparency, accountability, and empathy that prioritises people’s safety above all else.
Sustainable development demands that public infrastructure projects be executed with the highest standards of quality and integrity, ensuring that communities are not repeatedly left vulnerable. How can we, as citizens and stakeholders, advocate for stronger safeguards and participatory governance to prevent such failures in the future?
