Cracks have been found in the structure of the Umpasu bridge in Sonapyrdi, on the Jowai-Ratacherra Highway, leading to the East Jaiñtia Hills district administration slapping restrictions on the plying of heavy vehicles.
Cracks have been found at the bottom of a “prestressed girder” during testing of the bridge, the Additional District Magistrate said in an order passed under Section 144 of the CrPC. The order was passed on January 3.
One of the problems is that trucks have been modified in order to carry more goods than their rated capacity and these overloaded vehicles have the potential to cause further damage to the weakened bridge.
Therefore, the ADM banned overloaded trucks and multi-axle vehicles from using the bridge, as well as banning all vehicles from stopping on it. Furthermore, only one loaded vehicle at a time may cross the bridge with a speed limit of 20kmph.
