Tribune News Service

Dehradun, January 24

The Uttarakhand Congress has expressed concern over the slow pace of reconstruction of suspension bridges that were damaged in the Kedar valley in the infamous 2013 rain disaster.Addressing a press conference at the state Congress headquarters here today, Uttarakhand Congress president Pritam Singh said that reconstruction of a large number of suspension bridges that were damaged in the 2013 rain disaster in Kedarnath was going on at a tardy pace and the delays were causing great inconvenience to the local people.He stated that a large number of suspension bridges on Mandakani and Kali Ganga rivers in Kedarnath valley were swept away in the disaster and these bridges are still to be restored despite passage of four years to the disaster. “A hundred and eight meter long suspension bridge at Vijaynagar, 48 m long suspension bridge in Chandrapuri and 80-m long suspension bridge at Ukhimath are among the bridges that were destroyed in the 2013 disaster and are still be constructed”, Pritam Singh pointed out.He said due to the absence of these suspension bridges, villagers were facing a lot of inconvenience travelling to hospital, market and other places. The students were facing hardships going to their schools. They are forced to travel long distances. He explained that the previous Congress government had allotted funds for reconstruction of these damaged bridges and accused the state BJP government of doing little to pursue the matter. He reminded that incumbent Chief Minister Trivendra Rawat during his visit to Kedarnath valley some time back had assured that the reconstruction of these damaged suspension bridges would be take up on priority but nothing has been done on ground so far.Responding to queries, the state Congress president also disclosed that a delegation of Congress leaders comprising Kedarnath Congress MLA Manoj Rawat today submitted a memorandum to Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh seeking prompt action on part of state authorities for reconstruction of damaged suspension bridges in the Kedar  valley.Bridges washed away in 2013 disaster

• Congress chief Pritam Singh said a large number of suspension bridges on Mandakani and Kali Ganga rivers in the Kedarnath valley were swept away in the disaster and these bridges were still to be restored despite passage of four years to the disaster
• “A 108-metre suspension bridge at Vijaynagar, 48-metre suspension bridge in Chandrapuri and 80-metre suspension bridge at Ukhimath are among the bridges that were destroyed in the 2013 disaster and are still be constructed,” Pritam Singh said