Odisha: Bridge collapses, disrupts traffic on NH 49

A bridge caved in near Baniakilinda in Odisha's Deogarh district disrupting vehicular movement on National Highway number 49 connecting Mumbai to Kolkata today. The old bridge over a canal at Bengasula collapsed as its central pillar got dislocated following incessant downpour last night, officials said.

Following the incident, a large number of vehicles, mainly trucks, were stranded on both sides of the road, they said.

As a temporary arrangement, vehicles on the route are now being diverted through National Highway number 53, Executive Engineer C R Das said. At the same time, steps are being taken to prepare a diversion to enable the vehicles to pass through till the bridge is repaired, he said.