MANSEHRA: The central Mahandri Bridge, which connects Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Gilgit-Baltistan via the scenic Kaghan Valley, is rapidly becoming hazardous due to erosion and the accumulation of silt in the stream beneath it.
“The government widened this steel bridge last year to accommodate heavy traffic on the Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road, but the section of the stream where it rests on concrete beams has become dangerously eroded. If not repaired immediately, it could pose a serious risk to human lives during the tourism season,” said local resident Babu Ashraf while speaking to reporters on Thursday.
Flanked by a group of residents from Mahandri, which is the commercial hub of Manoor Valley, adjacent to Kaghan Valley, he said that the previous concrete bridge had been washed away in flash floods in recent years, after which a small steel structure was erected to maintain traffic flow between KP and GB as well as within Mansehra district.
“The earlier steel bridge was washed away twice in recent floods, prompting the government to replace it with this larger facility last year,” Babu Ashraf said.
Another resident said that several people were killed and dozens of shops, houses, electric turbines, and bridges were washed away during the flash floods in the last few years.
“Mahandri is a flood-prone area and has suffered significant human and financial losses in recent years. The government should recognise its sensitivity and ensure immediate repair and desilting work,” he added.
