Dudhia hume pipe bridge washes away in heavy rain

Heavy rain in the hills caused the Balasan river water level to rise and wash away the hume pipe bridge in Dudhia, halting heavy vehicle movement between Siliguri and Mirik. The hume pipe bridge was washed away after a sudden rise in the river water level during the night.

Traffic Movement on Alternative Route

Traffic connection between Siliguri and Mirik is not completely disrupted as an alternative bridge is available. The Bailey bridge, built by the army next to the hume pipe bridge, is currently being used for travel. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had virtually inaugurated the Bailey bridge on July 8 to normalize traffic.

Background of the Bridge

The iron bridge in Dudhia had broken down on October 4 last year due to heavy rain and a rise in the Balasan river. Following this, the hume pipe bridge was built on October 27. Heavy vehicle movement is now affected again due to the damage to the hume pipe bridge.