The damage to three vital bridges on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway-the Ravi bridge at Lakhanpur, the Devak bridge near AIIMS Vijaypur, and the Sahar Khad bridge near Kalibari-marks yet another grim reminder of how fragile our infrastructure has become. Barely two years ago, commuters suffered the nightmare of the Tarnah bridge collapse near Dayala Chak. Now, with three more bridges incapacitated in a single rainy season, the pattern is too glaring to ignore: piers sinking, embankments displaced, and traffic thrown into chaos. The consequences extend far beyond structural loss. Traffic diversion forces commuters to take detours of over extra kilometres, wasting hundreds of crores worth of fuel. The unending jams translate into hours of lost productivity. At night, diversions become deadly for those unfamiliar with the route. For patients in medical emergencies, delays can be catastrophic. The inconvenience is discouraging for tourists, denting the region's fragile tourism industry. Yet, accountability remains a missing link.
What makes the matter even more alarming is the fact that 50-60-year-old bridges in the region are still standing strong, while structures built just a decade ago are collapsing like a pack of cards. Exceptional rainfall is no excuse; bridges are designed to withstand the fury of floods. Retired engineers and subject experts have been vocal: weak foundations, insufficient pillar depth, and inadequate riverbed reinforcements may be the recurring technical shortcomings. Still, neither NHAI nor the Government has shown the will to order a serious inquiry.
The other reasons for these repeated disasters are also not hidden. Illegal mining around bridge pillars is rampant despite clear regulations prohibiting such activity. Mining mafias, often operating with the tacit support of local authorities, weaken the riverbeds and compromise bridge foundations. Land grabbing along water channels further aggravates the problem. In the case of Sahar Khad, influential individuals-politicians, businessmen, even a school owner-have allegedly diverted water flow to safeguard their encroached land. Such reckless manipulation of natural channels inevitably shifts the burden onto bridge structures. Surprisingly, District Administrations have chosen to ignore these obvious violations. The silence of NHAI in particular is troubling. The agency is the primary custodian of highway infrastructure and the direct sufferer of financial loss. Yet, it has shown no urgency to probe the failures, fix responsibility, or penalise contractors for possible design and construction lapses. The assurance of repairs by March 2026 is little solace for commuters condemned to suffer for the next six months. Repairs are not the same as accountability.
What is needed now is not another patchwork restoration but a decisive course correction. A third-party audit of bridge designs and construction quality is non-negotiable. Strict enforcement of anti-mining laws near bridges must be ensured, backed by criminal action against violators. Most importantly, all illegal encroachments along riverbanks must be removed, with FIRs filed against those who diverted water channels for private gain. Recovery of damages from such offenders should be mandatory. An annual pre-monsoon safety audit of all major bridges should be mandatory. The Flood Control Department's failure to channelise water flow before the rains is a glaring lapse that should no longer be tolerated. Preventive action costs far less than the repeated rebuilding of collapsed structures.
The bigger challenge, however, lies in changing the culture of impunity. Illegal collusions result in collateral damage to public infrastructure. Taxpayers' money gets regularly siphoned off. The Jammu-Lakhanpur highway is the lifeline of the region, connecting it with the rest of the country. Its steady deterioration due to bridge failures is unacceptable in both strategic and economic terms. Repeated breakdowns not only inconvenience civilians but also undermine national interests. The Government must wake up to the fact that the ultimate sufferer is the common commuter. To dismiss these as minor inconveniences is to undermine public trust. If NHAI and the administration fail to act decisively, the next rainy season will only bring fresh headlines of crumbling bridges and collapsing systems. The choice is clear: fix responsibility today or prepare to pay a heavier price tomorrow.