A high-level bridge spanning the Thenpennai River in Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, collapsed on 2 December 2024, just 90 days after Public Works Minister EV Velu inauguration on 2 September 2024.
— E.V.Velu (எ.வ.வேலு) (@evvelu) September 2, 2024
The bridge, constructed at an estimated cost of ₹15.90 crore by the Tamil Nadu Highways Department, was severely damaged by flooding triggered by the release of excess water from the Sathanur dam.
The 250-meter-long bridge, which stood 7 meters high and 12 meters wide with 12 spans, was designed to handle a water flow of up to 54,417 cubic feet per second.
This exposes the filthy nexus of bribes, kickbacks, and deliberate use of substandard materials, showing how deep DMK's corruption runs in public infrastructure projects. It's not just incompetence—it's outright looting disguised as governance. https://t.co/VxbTl8Z3XC pic.twitter.com/CdDUXTOoF4
— Vinodh Arulappan (@VinodhArulappan) December 3, 2024
However, the dam’s release of over 2 lakh cubic feet per second reportedly overwhelmed its capacity, leading to its collapse.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents, who have questioned the bridge’s construction and planning quality. One villager expressed concern that the bridge had been constructed without adequately considering the maximum water release from the dam, raising doubts about whether proper materials were used or if it met construction standards. Critics have also pointed to potential negligence by the state government, highlighting that the bridge collapsed within just 90 days of inauguration, prompting questions about whether the construction firm responsible would be held accountable.
Official Response
The Highways Department’s chief engineer, S. Devarasu, defended the bridge’s design, stating that it was built to withstand average annual rainfall. “The unprecedented release of water from the Sathanur dam caused the collapse,” Devarasu explained, attributing the failure to the unexpected scale of flooding.
In a press release, the Tamil Nadu government echoed this assessment, attributing the damage to “unprecedented heavy rainfall caused by Cyclone Fengal.” The government assured the public that repair efforts are underway and promised to restore the bridge soon.
The bridge’s collapse, only three months after its inauguration, has raised broader questions about governance and infrastructure quality in the state. Critics have called for greater scrutiny of construction standards and accountability for public works projects.
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