Shillong, Sept 19: The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) has sought a safety audit of two important bridges – one where the Border Security Force (BSF) is stationed in East Jaintia Hills, and the other over the Lukha river at Sonapur.
In a letter submitted to the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner on Friday, the JSU said the dilapidated Lukha River bridge, in particular, poses a significant risk to commuters. The bridge’s condition is further compromised by the constant movement of heavy vehicles and traffic congestion, with up to 20 trucks often halted on both sides of the bridge.
“Considering that this bridge was constructed a long time ago, its durability and strength to withstand such heavy loads are now highly questionable. That, given the importance of this route for both public movement and commercial transportation, any untoward incident such as a structural failure or collapse would not only endanger lives but also cause serious disruption in communication and transportation, leading to hardships for the people of the area and beyond,” the JSU said.
The union has requested the deputy commissioner have the two bridges inspected immediately, and he must take prompt action to prevent any future tragedy or transportation crisis.
