Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DC)

Mangaluru, Jun 26: The unchecked illegal sand mining might have caused the sudden collapse of bridge across Phalguni on Monday June 26.

The bridge which is nearly five-decade-old which provides connectivity from Edapadavu in Mangaluru taluk and passes via Kuppepadav, Arala-Muthur-Bantwal collapsed on Monday.

Even though the PWD officials who visited the bridge say that bridge collapsed following completely weakened foundation or the basement of the bridge due to strong currents following heavy rains in the region, locals blame on rampant sand mining.

The locals had complained about illegal sand mining with the district administration and alleged sand mining had weakened pillars of the bridge.

It may be recalled that in 2015, even though the district administration had banned mechanized sand extraction within 500 metres on either side of the bridge, sand mining was carried out using excavators and other machineries.

Following the sudden collapse, the villages on the banks of the river have been cut off from Bantwal taluk headquarters. Now the alternative route for the people of the region is Bantwal-B C Road-Polali or Bantwal-Siddakatte-Pucchemogaru-Moodbidri.

Deputy commissioner Sasikanth Senthil has banned the movement of vehicles towards the bridge and also police have been deployed at the spot.

MLA Rajesh Naik and former minister B Ramanath Rai also visited the spot following the bridge collapse.