Guwahati: A 300-metre iron bridge spanning the Kemi River in Assam’s Dhemaji district collapsed on Sunday. The structure vanished under heavy floodwaters. It cut off vital travel between the Kemi-Purana Jelom area and Jonai Sadar.
Water levels in the Kemi River began rising at 11:00 AM. A resident said, "water discharge in the river began increasing from around 11:00 AM and intensified rapidly." By 11:30 AM, the force of the flow pushed the entire bridge downstream. The surge came from heavy runoff in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh.
Locals questioned the design from the start. They had demanded a concrete structure, fearing the iron bridge would fail under monsoon currents. The bridge was barely a year old.
The loss isolates Kemi residents during a peak farming season. Students now face a major hurdle reaching school as exams loom. Authorities have yet to outline a plan to restore the crossing.
Comments