Railway bridge on Chakki river in Himachal collapses; train service to Pathankot halted
Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), August 20: The railway bridge over the Chakki river in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district collapsed on Saturday, ADM Kangra, Rohit Rathore informed.
The developments come amid heavy rainfall lashing Kangra, Chamba, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh.
The railway bridge on the Chakki river was damaged due to a flash flood, which on Saturday washed away the weakened pillar of the bridge on the Himachal-Punjab border. The water in the river is yet to recede, informed the Northern Railways.
"The railway bridge on Chakki river in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district damaged due to flash flood, collapsed today morning. The water in the river is yet to recede," Northern Railways said.
The narrow-gauge railway service between Pathankot and Jogindernagar would remain suspended as a result of the bridge collapse. Notably, seven trains a day used to operate along the narrow gauge rail line between Pathankot and Jogindernagar.
Meanwhile, according to sources, the rampant illegal mining in Punjab has prompted the Railway Ministry to caution the state government against the danger of rail bridges caving in.
Also Read | Flash flood, landslides in Himachal: 15 missing in Mandi, two bodies recovered
The letter comes as the railway bridge on the Chakki river on the Himachal-Punjab border collapsed due to illegal mining.
Meanwhile, at least 15 people are missing and two bodies have been recovered after flash floods in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district in separate incidents, officials informed on Saturday.
Heavy rains in the Chamba district triggered a landslide on Saturday. At least three persons are missing after a house collapsed during the landslide in the district.
Heavy rains have been lashing the state and several roads have been blocked.
"Many areas of Mandi received rain overnight; we started receiving calls of roads getting blocked and other related concerns since 1:30 am. Many individual incidents were resolved. Police are on the job. The NDRF was contacted at around 2:30 am and their mobilisation has been done," the Mandi DC added.
Also Read | Flash floods near Vaishno Devi temple, movement of devotees halted
-PTC News
