Construction of Mahandri Bridge underway

Authorities build temporary causeway for pedestrians

BALAKOT:

The construction work on the Mahandri Bridge on the Kaghan Highway is in progress as authorities continue to re-establish the region’s connectivity with other areas.

A temporary pedestrian crossing has been established to allow people to traverse the stream, while the Mahandri Bazaar remains at risk from the lake formed by the Kunhar River. The rising waters of the lake have already entered several hotels and affected dozens of shops.

Following the creation of the temporary crossing, hundreds of people who had been stranded in the Kaghan Valley for six days managed to cross the stream and continue their journeys. Later, several small vehicles were also permitted to pass through the temporary crossing.

Moazzam Khan, an officer from the Kaghan Development Authority (KDA), reported that the temporary passage has allowed the stranded individuals to cross the stream, and the work on installing the bridge is ongoing.

Six days prior, the main Mahandri Bridge was swept away by a flood in the Munawar Nullah, effectively cutting off the Kaghan Valley from Balakot. However, six days later, a passage for pedestrian crossing was created, and construction on the new bridge is continuing.

The closure of the highway has left the Kaghan Valley in a state of silence, with tourism in Naran coming to a standstill due to the delayed installation of the bridge. This disruption has resulted in millions of rupees in losses for those connected to the tourism industry. Additionally, the Mahandri market remains under threat due to the lake formed by the Kunhar River.