Uttarakhand Bridge Collapses in Seconds as Powerful Currents Tear It Apart

Strong currents triggered by a sharp rise in river water levels following heavy rainfall swept away a bridge in Uttarakhand’s Niti Valley in Chamoli district.

A video of the incident shows a massive surge of muddy water rushing downstream before crashing into the metal bridge. Within seconds, the powerful current uprooted the structure and dragged it towards the riverbank.

The footage also shows a truck and an SUV travelling along the road beside the river turning away just in time as the bridge was swept away.

The collapse has cut off the area from the main town. Authorities have advised people to avoid travelling through the affected region and postpone journeys until weather conditions improve and an official clearance is issued.

Residents living close to rivers and streams have also been urged to maintain a safe distance, as further rises in water levels remain possible amid continued heavy rainfall.

Uttarakhand Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman said the state has been witnessing continuous rainfall since Sunday night, with Dehradun, Bageshwar, Nainital and Champawat among the affected districts.

Suman said more rain is expected across Uttarakhand, with a brief break likely during the evening before rainfall resumes at night.

He added that authorities are conducting awareness programmes in landslide-prone areas and informing residents about safety measures to follow during extreme weather conditions.