JK: Bridges restored by Army engineers connect lakhs of people

After restoring the national highway between flood ravaged Srinagar and Jammu, Army engineers have successfully constructed four major bridges in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts in a big relief to lakhs of people residing here.

After restoring the national highway between flood ravaged Srinagar and Jammu, Army engineers have successfully constructed four major bridges in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts in a big relief to lakhs of people residing here.

According to an Army official, the force's engineers have swiftly restored connectivity for lakhs of people living in flood-snapped areas in Jammu district.

They had successfully opened the National Highway between Jammu and Srinagar yesterday, and restored the connectivity between Rajouri and Budhal tehsils by constructing a 180 feet Bailey bridge over Ans River at Kot Ranka, he said.

With the completion of this bridge, Army has ensured that relief and rehabilitation support can reach the remotest part of the state, the official said.

Army men have been working tirelessly to construct this double-storey bridge, the largest to be made by the Army in Srinagar and Jammu divisions till date and in the shortest possible time, he said.

The existing bridge of 1992 vintage which was washed away during flash floods at Kotranka area, disrupting the only road transport system and affecting 1.3 lakh people.

The bridge is the only road link between the two important districts of Rajouri and Reasi. Moreover, it is situated at the heart of the Kotranka tehsil, with a population of over 70,000 residing in 51 villages.

The soldiers of 10 Engineer Regiment of the Indian Army set up the Bailey bridge as part of restoration and relief operations, he said, adding that two Jawans received injuries as their fingers were severed during the operation.

Few days ago, they constructed a iron bridge on river Chenab connecting village of Hamirpur Kolia in Pargwal belt of Jammu district. Over 400 families housing in Hamirpur have been connected with the rest of the district, he said.

The Engineers have built two bridges connecting Poonch border town and flood-hit areas of Jammu district.

One Task Force of Army Engineers and troops from Poonch Brigade along with the Border Roads personnel had made the Dorungli Bridge, a part of which was washed away on September 6 in flash flood, operational by September 10 in just 24 hours.

This bridge is the only link from Poonch to Rajouri. After the breakdown of other bridge over Poonch River, the Sher-e-Kashmir bridge, the people of Poonch were completely cut off from rest of Jammu region.

In another instance, Army men built a 150 meters long bridge on river Tawi river in Jammu to connect 47 flood-hit villages, he said.

Abour 10,000 personnel of Army Engineers and Border Roads Organisation (BRO), equipped with an over 400 dozers, excavators and JCBs, besides 300 tippers and dumpers, have restored road links at an over 1000 places damaged in flash floods, besides reconstruction of various bridges across the state during the last one week.

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