Bridge collapse tragedy

Attention to infrastructure is necessary if the government wants to promote international tourism in the country

Twenty-six precious human lives were lost when a bridge over the river Kandia in Upper Kohistan collapsed on Saturday. It was a suspension bridge. A local official said the bridge collapsed under the weight of a van carrying 31 passengers. The ill-fated passengers were from two families. The fact that the bridge was unable to bear the weight of the vehicle and of the passengers shows that the vehicle was carrying passengers beyond its capacity and the bridge too was not in a proper condition.

Circumstances surrounding the accident indicate that it was overconfidence on the part of the driver and the silent acquiescence on the part of the passengers that caused the accident. It has been observed that many accidents are caused due to overconfident drivers who encounter no opposition from passengers. The obduracy of one man has possibly snuffed out 26 innocent lives. Five of the passengers jumped out of the vehicle and swam to safety. It would be too early to say the accident occurred due to the weak condition of the bridge or official neglect. The government should order an inquiry to ascertain the cause or causes of the accident and punish the guilty.

In January this year, at least eight labourers were killed and several others went missing after a passenger van was completely buried by a landslide at Karakoram Highway in Kohistan. The van was carrying 12 labourers who worked at the Dasu Hydropower Project. There are 70 suspension bridges over the Kandia river and other streams in the area. These bridges are reportedly in an unsatisfactory condition due to frequent flash floods in the region. The government needs to be focused on the maintenance of bridges all over the country. This takes on more importance where places of tourist attraction are located. Paying attention to infrastructure is necessary if the government wants to promote both international and internal tourism in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2019.

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