Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal
Bantwal, Jun 25: A bridge at Mularpatna connecting Mangaluru taluk to Bantwal across Phalguni river collapsed following torrential rains that have been lashing the district over the past few days.
The bridge at Mularpatna connects Sornadu in Bantwal to several places in Mangaluru, like Kupppedavu, Kaikamba, Iruvail, Edapadavu, Ganjimatt, Suratkal and others.
Now, due to the collapse of the bridge, locals have been cut off from easy access to the above areas and would have to take longer routes.
Locals alleged that the bridge collapsed due to incessant illegal sand mining that has been going on under the bridge.
Locals also said that they had on several occasions submitted appeals to the authorties concerned regarding the precarious condition the bridge was in, but no action was taken.
The police later placed an expandable barricade with reflectors and closed the road leading to the bridge.