Mahandri Bridge reopens to traffic after two weeks

BALAKOT:

The National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) rebuilt the Mahandri Bridge, restoring a critical transportation link on the Naran-Kaghan road.

The bridge, which was destroyed on July 30, 2024, due to a flash flood, has now been reopened for all types of traffic. Fourteen days ago, the bridge was washed away by a flood in the Munawar Nullah, leading to the closure of Kaghan Road and stranding thousands of tourists in Kaghan Valley. They were eventually evacuated via the Chilas route. The bridge's collapse caused significant hardships for both the residents and tourists.

The collapse of the Mahandri Bridge caused significant disruptions, halting traffic on key routes connecting Mansehra, Kaghan, Naran, and Babusar, and creating severe hardships for both the local population and tourists. In response to the crisis, the National Highway Authority (NHA) and FWO promptly initiated the bridge's reconstruction. The Pakistan Army provided essential materials and FWO's machinery and workforce worked around the clock to rebuild the bridge. The bridge is now fully operational, and transportation in the area has been restored.