The District Administration Dimapur, have prohibited movement of vehicles on the Nagarjan beam bridge as a precaution.
The approach road to the bridge from Dimapur city side developed deep cracks when the concrete abutment protecting the filled roadside at the bridge base, gave way triggering subsidence and consequent cracks over the sunken road portion.
According to traffic personnel stationed at the location, the cracks appeared between 12 to 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
Dimapur PWD (R&B) executive engineer Talitemsu Jamir disclosed that digging for an abutment (supporting column) for the new under-construction bridge had loosened the soil. This coupled with rain for the past few days had pulled down the earth at the North Western end of Nagarjan Bridge, resulting in the crack.
While the crack appeared on the approach road, the bridge itself was not affected. Motorists were still plying along the road despite the potential danger posed.
Police barricades were erected to prevent vehicles from using the road stretch. However pedestrians were allowed to walk across.
With the closure of Nagarjan bridge and the dismantling of the British made Bailey Bridge over Dhansiri river connecting Purana Bazar and New Circuit House/Walford colony, the only remaining bridge is the new Dhansiri bridge near Burma Camp area. This has caused mounting traffic problem for Dimapur city during the past year.