Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 17 Sep: Due to heavy rainfall, landslides, and cloudbursts, 62 roads and 8 bridges of the Public Works Department (PWD) have been damaged across the district.
State PWD and Irrigation Minister Satpal Maharaj, on Wednesday, conducted an on-site inspection of the rain, landslide, and cloudburst-affected areas, including Kesharwala–Maldevta, Kumalda–Kaddukhal, Khairi Mansingh routes, and the Dehradun–Mussoorie Road near Shiv Mandir, where a bridge has been severely damaged. He issued necessary instructions to PWD and Irrigation Department officials during the visit.
The Minister disclosed that out of the 8 damaged bridges, permanent restoration work has been completed on 5 bridges, and traffic has resumed. On the remaining 3 bridges, rapid repair work is underway. A Bailey bridge is being constructed on the Dehradun–Mussoorie motor road near Shiv Mandir on a war footing, which will be opened for traffic very soon.
Speaking to the media during the inspection, he said that, at National Highway-72, near Uttaranchal University and Jhajhra bridge, temporary diversions with hume pipes and wire crates have been created. Similarly, at the damaged bridge on the Karligaad–Majhada road, filling work has been initiated. He informed that traffic has already been restored on 35 roads, while efforts are ongoing to reopen the remaining 27 roads at the earliest.
Maharaj stated that work is continuously in progress to reopen the 300-metre damaged stretch of the Maldevta–Kesharwala motor road. He emphasised the urgent need for river channelisation and directed the Irrigation, Disaster Management, and Mining Departments work together to ensure river water does not enter residential areas. He also appealed to people not to construct buildings near rivers and streams.
After inspecting the affected areas, he reported that the maximum damage has occurred on Raipur, Kumalda–Kaddukhal, Kesharwala, and Khairi Mansingh roads, as well as in the Sahastradhara and Mussoorie regions. He directed departmental officials to restore traffic on blocked routes and ensure essential services are resumed at the earliest.
During the inspection, PWD Chief Engineer Rajesh Kumar Sharma and several senior officers of the PWD and Irrigation Department were also present.
