Army's 15-day bridge relinks villages in Kashmir

A bailey bridge, constructed by the army in a record 15 days over Madmatti River, was thrown open to public relinking the North Kashmir's Bandipora district, which was cut off after a flash flood washed of a concrete one last month.

The army had taken up the work following a request from the civil administration Bandipora, 55 kms from here, a defence spokesman said today.

The bailey bridge is a portable pre-fabricated truss bridge which are transported in parts to be assembled and fitted later.

Last month's flood had swept away a concrete bridge affecting the lives of about two lakh people in the area. Works on the 100-feet long triple-single bridge were completed yesterday.

The collapse of the bridge had severely affected students on the other side of the river and in Sopore, and an average of 30,000 vehicles which used to ply on the route had to take longer and tedious detour.