Rs330m Jhelum bridge collapses ahead of inauguration

Concrete structure collapsed following a thunderstorm in the area; however, no loss of life or injury was reported


Babar Naveed May 24, 2016
Photo shows destruction of Gujrat's Ghan Bridge after a part of it collapsed on Sunday. PHOTO: FACEBOOK

LAHORE: A significant part of an under-construction bridge in Gujarat’s Ghan storm water channel near Jhelum collapsed on Sunday, just days before it set for inauguration by the Punjab chief minister.

The concrete structure collapsed following a thunderstorm in the area. However, no loss of life or injury was reported.

Sources said the bridge collapsed because of the use of substandard material in its construction and negligence of the highways department, adding the bridge was being constructed by Sheikh Nazar and Company.

Shahbaz Sharif had laid the foundation stone of the Ghan Bridge in November 2014, and was expected to be opened for traffic next month.

Bridge over troubled waters: Three missing as structure collapses over Bara River

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

On recommendation of the ruling party’s MPA Chaudhry Lal Khan, the Punjab government had approved Rs330 million for the project, which is of great significance to the people of Pind Dadan Khan and Jhelum as it connects the two areas, sources said.

Dozens injured in bridge collapse

PHOTO: FACEBOOK

Inquiry ordered

Meanwhile, an inquiry was ordered into the incident.

“A high-level team has been formed to interrogate the incident,” DCO Jhelum Iqbal Hussain Khan told The Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (4)

Dr.Syed Ali Rizwan | 7 years ago | Reply There can be more than one possibilities or a combination thereof for the failure but the point is that professionals learn a lot from failures so ample opportunity should be given to all technical personnel who would like to give opinion free of cost.But the problem is unfortunately that Inquiry committee composition is usually such that even the academic the truth ddoes not come out . The technical team selected should consist of structural engineers and modern concrete technology engineers. It is known to public that one of the expert chosen on committee is a transportation engineer with connections but having no knowledge of both of above mentioned technical fields. It apperas that the committee constituted is just an eye wash. These technical failures should be inspected by Engineers,consultatnts and Professors of structures and concrete materials so as to know the real cause of failure as we have learnt a lot from failures. The typical example is failure of ware house roof collapse of US air force in 1955 probably after which entire ACI codes provisions on shear were changed. syedalirizwan@hotmail.com
Junaid | 7 years ago | Reply The reporter needs to have some understandings of the civil works particular to bridges, as per the photograph the bridge is only 50% complete as there is lot of work reaming such as diaphragm walls, deck slab, crash barriers, road works .. How can you write inauguration expected next month ??? or collapsed days before inauguration this doesn't make sense .. One of the reason the beams got slipped is that contractor has not provided bracing after the erection of girders which is mandatory and part of temporary works to support main works. The possibility of poor material is secondary as if concrete beam even of good quality falls from that height will definitely rupture.
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