Kolkata, Sept. 11 -- State Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh on Friday sought to dispel confusion over reports that a Bailey Bridge over the Balason river in Mirik, Darjeeling, had been damaged, asserting that the bridge remained intact and fully operational.
At a Press conference, Ghosh said the structure washed away in recent heavy rain was a temporary crossway built by local residents and not the Bailey Bridge currently being used for communication.
She said the incident should also not be confused with the damage reported in June to a permanent bridge under construction over the Balason. According to the government, residents had built the temporary crossing on their own initiative to facilitate movement across the river. The structure subsequently collapsed and was washed away after heavy rain led to a rise in the river's water level.
Ghosh said images and accounts of the incident were later circulated on social media, incorrectly portraying the incident as damage to the Bailey Bridge and potentially creating unnecessary panic.
"The Bailey Bridge was completely intact and was being used normally. Construction of the new permanent bridge, being undertaken under the supervision of the PWD, was also progressing as scheduled," she said.
Ghosh appealed to people to verify information before sharing it and said there was no cause for concern over the Bailey Bridge or the ongoing construction of the permanent bridge.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.