Chowrangi

Tension and fear griped People of Karachi again when news of bridge collapse surfaced in afternoon.

The bridge situated at Paracha Chowk in Shershah and part of Northern Bypass was inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on 6 August 2007.

So far 6 deaths are confirmed and several people are still stuck under the debris.

Karachi City Nazim Mustapha Kamal, who is quick to take credit of every ‘development’ work going in the city, denied any involvement of CDGK in construction of bridge.

The project of the Northern Bypass was started in 2002 with the cooperation of the National Logestic Cell and the National Highway. The 57 km long Northern Bypass was constructed at a cost of Rs 3.5 billion.

A part of the Northern Bypass was opened for traffic on December 14, 2004 and was inaugurated by federal minister for communications Shamim Siddiqui.

The objective of the construction of the Northern Bypass was to make easy the movement of heavy traffic and cargo vehicles and to maintain the traffic flow in the city.

Also, the Northern Bypass links Karachi seaport to Gwader port through Makran coastal highway.

So far, exact reason for collapse is not known. However, most likely it can be due to increase in heavy traffic in past few days as per Supreme Court directive most of heavy traffic was directed through Northern Bypass to reduce traffic jams in Karachi. According to a structural engineer contacted by Geo, the bridge lacked supporting pillars which caused it to cave in under the load.

President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad and Chief Minister Sindh Dr. Arbab Ghulam Raheem showed their concern over the collapse and deaths.

According to another report, there are 57 bridges and flyovers in the city and most of them are unable to bear simultaneous load of 1000 tons. It is a burning fact that the CDGK, NHA, Ministry of Transportation and all other relevant departments are playing with human lives. Unfortunately no justice system is in place to counter and punish the guilty

As Adnan pointed in his blog, Nazimabad underpass got a crater in its roof and may cause a disaster any time.

Karachi mourns yet again while the blame game goes on.

Image Source: Daily Jang

Other posts by Kashif Aziz

• Pakistan edging towards another Military Rule? - Part 2 - August 30th, 2008
• Pakistan edging towards another Military Rule? - Part 1 - August 29th, 2008
• Say No to Electricity Bills - August 28th, 2008
• Tanzeem Naqvi resigned from KESC - August 28th, 2008
• Pakistan faces severe Power Crisis - August 27th, 2008
• NATO Vehicles Burned at Maripur Karachi - August 27th, 2008
• Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and her son interrogated by Afghans - August 25th, 2008
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs updates on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui - August 23rd, 2008
• Pervez Musharraf resigns as President of Pakistan - August 18th, 2008
• Clarification by US Consulate in Pakistan on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's Abducation - August 17th, 2008