A catastrophic bridge collapse near Manglore on National Highway 305 in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district sent shockwaves through the region on Saturday, as a sand-laden truck plummeted into the river below. The incident, marked by a deafening crack, brought traffic to a standstill, stranding countless locals and tourists.

The bridge, a critical lifeline linking Kullu to the remote areas of Banjar, Ani, and Nirmand, buckled under the truck’s weight, according to eyewitnesses. Panic erupted as onlookers rushed to the scene, where the vehicle lay submerged in the gushing river. Locals and police swiftly launched a rescue operation, pulling the trapped driver to safety. He was rushed to a hospital with injuries but is stable, officials confirmed.

Residents pointed to long-ignored maintenance issues, blaming frequent heavy vehicle traffic and neglected repairs for weakens the structure. “We warned the authorities, but nothing was done,” said a local. The collapse has severed connectivity to interior regions, leaving commuters scrambling.

The Kullu administration has alerted the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), urging immediate action. While alternate routes are being explored, no long-term fix has been confirmed. Commuters are advised to avoid the area and follow official updates.

A technical team is en route to assess the damage and kickstart repairs, but the disruption underscores the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades in the region. For now, Kullu remains cut off, grappling with the fallout of this disaster.