BJP Leader Rajat Thakur Raises Alarm Over Crumbling Chaswal Bridge in Dharampur; Urges Immediate Government Action.
Shimla:
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and State Media Co-Incharge Rajat Thakur has raised a serious alert regarding the deteriorating condition of the Chaswal Bridge in the Dharampur Assembly Constituency of Mandi district, warning that the structure is on the verge of collapse due to heavy landslides beneath one corner of the bridge.
Originally constructed in 2010, the bridge serves as a crucial link connecting Dharampur to Sajyopiplu, Garli via Chaswal and Gharwasda, facilitating daily commute and transport for over 4,000 residents in the region. However, continuous land erosion under the bridge—especially worsened by the recent monsoon rains—has made it structurally vulnerable.
Inspecting the site personally, Thakur expressed grave concern that if immediate protective measures are not taken, the bridge may collapse entirely, leading to a financial burden of approximately Rs. 25 crore for the construction of a new bridge.
Thakur made a public appeal to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh, and senior PWD officials including the Engineer-in-Chief (ENC), urging them to take swift and appropriate action to save the existing bridge. He stressed that preventing its collapse would not only safeguard public resources but also prevent massive disruption to local communities.
He pointed out that the primary cause of the current damage is the accumulation of water from both Chaswal village and Sajoa area, which flows directly onto the bridge due to poor drainage planning. Thakur blamed the Public Works Department (PWD) for negligence and lack of maintenance, stating that no timely repair or inspection had been carried out despite warning signs.
Rajat Thakur also highlighted the widespread destruction in the Dharampur constituency due to unusually heavy rainfall this season. He noted that homes, fertile farmland, and cowsheds have been washed away, causing severe distress to local residents. He demanded fair compensation for all affected families and urged the state administration to prioritize the restoration of damaged roads across the region.
Thakur emphasized that saving the Chaswal Bridge is a matter of urgency, and that timely intervention by the government is essential to prevent both human inconvenience and financial loss.
