Video: Massive crater appears on newly opened Dehradun bridge after heavy rain

A newly inaugurated bridge over the Tons River in Dehradun was damaged following overnight rain, raising questions over the quality of construction of the key link connecting Dehradun with Vikasnagar and neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.The bridge, inaugurated only a few days ago, developed a massive crater near the approach to the water crossing after heavy rain, disrupting traffic along the route. Residents have questioned whether the newly built structure was capable of withstanding the monsoon, which brings intense rain and flooding to Uttarakhand.Visuals of the damaged bridge quickly circulated on social media. However, the administration is yet to issue an official statement on the extent of the damage or its cause. A technical inspection is expected to determine whether the damage resulted from flooding, structural deficiencies, or other factors.The incident comes as Uttarakhand remains under a heavy rain alert. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in nine districts on Tuesday, warning of thunderstorms and intense spells of rain that could trigger widespread disruptions. Dehradun is among the districts under the orange alert, along with Uttarkashi, Tehri, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Udham Singh Nagar, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Nainital. The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places, accompanied by thunderstorms and intense rain spells.In view of the forecast, the state government has directed all district administrations to remain on high alert and take precautionary measures to minimise disruptions and ensure public safety. Several parts of Uttarakhand recorded widespread rain on Monday. According to IMD data, Dangoli received the highest rainfall at 65 mm, followed by Berinag (41.5 mm), Ghat (41 mm), Song (40 mm), Bastia (37 mm), Haldwani (35 mm), Almora (33.5 mm), Jakholi (32 mm) and Tanakpur (28 mm).With heavy rain expected to persist over the coming days, the damage to the newly opened bridge is likely to intensify scrutiny of infrastructure quality in the hill state, where monsoon conditions routinely put public works to the test.- EndsPublished On: Jul 28, 2026 08:42 IST