Indian Army Constructs Bailey Bridge in Limchigad

• The Indian Army has built a Bailey bridge in Limchigad.
• The new bridge restores connectivity after an August 5 cloudburst.
• The 90-foot bridge was constructed in coordination with civil authorities.
• The new bridge has a load capacity of nearly 50 tonnes.

GG News Bureau
Limchigad, 23rd Aug: The Indian Army has completed a Bailey bridge in Limchigad, restoring connectivity after the original bridge was washed away. The disaster occurred on August 5 during a cloudburst in Uttarkashi’s Dharali. The destruction of the bridge had brought all transportation to a standstill, making restoration an urgent priority.

Multiple teams worked together to build the new bridge. Teams from the police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and engineers joined the Indian Army’s Bengal Engineers Group (BEG). They worked around the clock despite heavy rainfall to restore the connection.

The mission also included search, medical, and communication teams. The 90-foot Bailey bridge was completed at 5 pm on Sunday.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Army engineers constructed the bridge. Located on the Gangotri National Highway, the new bridge spans the Limchigad, between Gangnani and Dharali. With a load capacity of nearly 50 tonnes, the bridge will greatly assist relief and rescue operations in the challenging Himalayan terrain.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the completion on X. He stated that the bridge is now open for traffic. “Through this bridge, relief materials and machinery are being sent forward quickly,” he wrote. “The movement of local people has also resumed smoothly. Our government is working with full commitment to normalise public life.”

Authorities are also clearing blockages along the highway at Songad, Dabrani, Harsil, and Dharali at a rapid pace. However, heavy rain is hindering helicopter evacuations of stranded individuals. Since Wednesday, 1,273 people have been airlifted from Dharali and Harsil.