The bridge itself has neither broken nor sustained any damage; only a section of its approach road has subsided,” PWD secretary Pankaj Pandey clarified after a portion of the Rs 16-crore Nanda ki Chowki bridge’s approach caved in, cutting off the Dehradun-Paonta Sahib highway following heavy overnight rain.
According to a report by The Times of India, the collapse came just 17 days after the bridge was opened to traffic on July 12, having already missed its original April 30 deadline.
The structure was built to replace an earlier bridge that was washed away in September last year, killing 14 people.
District magistrate Ashish Chauhan has taken cognisance of the fresh collapse and ordered action against those found responsible if lapses in construction
or execution are established, TOI reported.
What Caused The Approach Road To Collapse?
Pandey said preliminary observations suggest heavy rainfall on Monday night diverted water flow toward the approach section, eroding soil beneath the surface.
“We suspect that this erosion caused the filling material (soil and RMC) to be washed away, leading to the subsidence,” he said, adding that the affected area was not visible from the surface before the cave-in.
#WATCH | Dehradun, Uttarakhand | On a portion of the newly constructed bridge caving in between Prem Nagar and Nanda Ki Chowki on the Dehradun-Paonta Sahib Highway, Pankaj Pandey, Secretary of the PWD Uttarakhand Government, says, "…I would like to clarify that the bridge… pic.twitter.com/uxOTx62rLn
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 28, 2026
How Has Traffic Been Affected?
The cave-in disconnected the bridge from the highway, disrupting traffic between Dehradun, Vikasnagar and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh, with vehicles diverted via Jhajhra on the outskirts of Dehradun, TOI reported.
#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Continuous heavy rainfall since last night has caused a portion of the newly constructed bridge between Prem Nagar and Nanda Ki Chowki on the Dehradun–Paonta Sahib Highway to collapse, disrupting traffic movement. pic.twitter.com/Oq4zNAyjCC
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 28, 2026
District disaster management officer Rishabh Kumar said restoration work is being held up by high water levels in the Tons River. “We are waiting for the Tons River’s water level to recede before soil filling can be undertaken safely and traffic can be restored,” he was quoted.
Irrigation department officials have since been deployed at the site to regulate the river’s flow. According to the publication, the district administration later said temporary repairs had been carried out and traffic restored.
What Is Being Done To Fix It And Fix Responsibility?
Pandey said two tracks are being pursued simultaneously — restoration and accountability. “Our team is actively working on this, using several machines and tippers. We are also managing the water flow to prevent further damage or risks,” he said, adding that the Irrigation Department was brought in for its expertise in channel flow management.
On accountability, he said the chief engineer of the Dehradun regional office has been asked to visit the site and submit a preliminary report within three days identifying the cause and those responsible. “Any delay is unacceptable. Restoring the road is the department’s top priority,” Pandey said.
“We have a dual responsibility: restoration and taking action against those responsible… we will proceed with the utmost seriousness and enforce the strictest possible measures.”
Why Is The Bridge Under Scrutiny?
The Rs 16-crore project’s quick failure has drawn sharp criticism from residents and the opposition over construction quality.
“Authorities are doing nothing but evading accountability… It took almost a year for the bridge to be completed. The govt spent Rs 16 crore on it and within days such a huge sinkhole appeared. The public is angry over such poor-quality infrastructure. Shouldn’t the PWD minister be held accountable?” social activist Anoop Nautiyal was quoted by TOI.
Following directions from the chief minister, clarifications have been sought from the officials and contractor involved, and Chauhan has ordered action against those found responsible, TOI reported.
