Another bridge falls, this time in Mon

Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 6

As the state’s highest policy makers assembled for the Monsoon Session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly in Kohima, a bridge collapsed on August 6 in the far eastern fringe of the state. 

The single lane bridge, known locally as Tongma Bridge, falls right on the Assam-Nagaland border connecting Tizit, Mon with Namtola in Assam. It forms part of the Mon-Namtola Road (NH 702). The river over which the bridge stands is said to be a distributory of the Tizit river. 

According to the Deputy Commissioner, Mon, the bridge deck fell around 10:30 am as a truck was crossing it. A portion of the deck, a cluster of wooden planks, caved in taking the truck along. Fortunately, the occupants of the truck survived unhurt. 

The DC informed that the state PWD (National Highways) was immediately notified. Meanwhile an alternate route linking Tizit to Sonari, Assam was arranged. “Heavy vehicles have been restricted for the time being except for the ones carrying essential commodities,” the DC said. 

He added that the alternate route also has a bridge “which is not the highest quality” and cannot sustain the load of heavy vehicles. 

The Executive Engineer PWD (NH) in charge of Mon Division described the bridge as “very old.” “We tried to get some information regarding the age of the bridge. But no record is there. It must have been built during the early 60s by the BRO (Border Roads Organisation).”

The official said that only the deck of the bridge collapsed and the main “tubular steel structure” remained intact. “We’ll try to rectify it in maybe 2 or 3 days. We are giving our best efforts. Meanwhile, commuters can use an alternate route.” 

He held that the truck was overloaded carrying over 24 tonnes, 3 times more than the admissible load. He maintained that the standing advisory on vehicle payload using the bridge was to “allow only upto 7 tonnes.

According to him, the rickety bridge was repaired quite often in the past and that there is a state government plan to expand the Mon-Namtola Road, including a new RCC 2-lane bridge over the river. 
Advised to use 

alternate route
The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tizit issued a notice informing the closure of the ‘Tongma Bridge’ - near Nagaland Police Check Gate in Tizit - to vehicular traffic with effect from August 6 “till further order.” The notice informed the public of Tizit Sub-division that the closure was necessitated to allow urgent repairing of the damaged portion of the bridge deck. 

The notice was accompanied by another informing commuters that vehicular traffic has been temporarily diverted from the Pentom junction, Tizit towards Inter State Connectivity (ISC) Road till Namtola Char Ali, Assam. It cautioned, “However, plying of heavy vehicles is restricted.”