CHAKWAL: The flash flooding in a torrent not only scuttled the repair work on Dumman Bridge rather further damaged its pillars.

Hundreds of commuters were left with no other option but to take long routes to reach their destinations as Chakwal-Sohawa Road, which connects Chakwal and Jhelum, was shut for traffic on Tuesday evening after significant soil erosion beneath the bridge was witnessed.

The Dumman Bridge located 24km from Chakwal is constructed over Kulhian torrent on Chakwal-Sohawa Road.

“Due to recent heavy rainfall, significant soil erosion has occurred beneath the approach abutment of Dumman Bridge which has compromised the structural stability of the bridge”, Executive Engineer Punjab Highways Department Mohammad Adeel told Dawn.

Chakwal-Sohawa Road closed for traffic after soil erosion occurred beneath approach abutment

He said the road was closed to ensure public safety. Traffic has been diverted to Mandra-Chakwal Road.

“Although the repair work would take two to three weeks, we have decided to install a steel bridge so that at least the road could be opened for light vehicles”, Mr added. He said the steel bridge would be installed within the next two days.

Another official of the district administration said the secretary Communication and Works Department along with other concerned officials visited the site on Thursday and it was decided that a thorough inspection of the bridge would be conducted before any repair.

On the other hand, commuters have been forced to take extra distance to reach their destinations. Vehicles which used to run between Chakwal and Jhelum are now first coming to Mandra and from Mandra they reach their destinations. Commuters whose villages are located behind this bridge reach Chakwal by using a rural road which runs from Mulhal Mughlan to Bhubar, from Bhubar to Harar and from Harar to Chakwal.

On Wednesday, as Mr Adeel along with the deputy director planning and finance was supervising the repair work, some people gathered at the site and protested the negligence of the concerned authorities. “We have informed the concerned authorities a month ago but no action was taken”, a protester said.

Former executive engineer PWD Lateef Awan while talking to Dawn termed the closure of the road “wrong”. “The bridge’s sustainability is not based on the soil rather its each pillar has piles which are installed 90 feet deep into the soil. Soil erosion is common during the rainy season but it does not pose danger to a bridge which has been constructed with utmost care”, he maintained.

The closure of the bridge stirred another controversy. Chakwal-Sohawa Road was built at a hefty cost of Rs7980m by the now defunct Pakistan Public Works Department a few years ago. PWD got the road constructed by the National Logistic Cell. Under the project, the 70km road was made a dual carriageway. The road work on which was started in 2015 was built in 2021 with a delay of five years.

However, the bridge was constructed only on one side of the road while the construction on the other side was not started.

That’s why the traffic has to pass from one side at this spot.

The Highway Department blames PWD for not constructing the bridge on the other side of the road while PWD blames the Highway Department for failing to construct the bridge.

Ironically, according to a letter of handing and taking dated December 21, 2021, the road was handed over to the Exen highways.

The letter clearly stated that the road was complete in all aspects except Dumman Bridge.

“First it was decided that the old bridge would be used on the other side of the road.

That was why the construction of the bridge on the other side of the road was not included in the project. But later on when we checked the old bridge, it was found unfeasible for the traffic”, Mr Awan told Dawn. He added the construction of the bridge on the other side of the road required additional funds which were not allocated.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2025