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 The
worst floods in the memory of those living in Bengal
devastated five districts in September- October, this year. As
a result of the unprecedented floods, the 60 metre long RCC
bridge over Pagla Chandi river in Nadia district was breached
disrupting the heavy traffic on NH-34. The Government of West
Bengal requisitioned the services of Army. The task was
assigned to 9 Engineer Regiment, popularly known as Basantar
(R). The task force under the over-all command of Col Surinder
Sharma, the CO, comprised two officers, two JCOs and 70 other
ranks. One officer, one JCO and 40 ORs of 12 Mahar were placed
under the command of the task force for the bridge site
management.
 The
task force with 25 truckloads of Bailey bridge stores reached
Pagla Chandi and the bridge construction commenced. The task
force worked non-stop for 40 hours and on the second day the
70-feet double single bridge at Krishna Nagar end was
completed. The loaded vehicles moved on to the RCC bridge for
unloading and construction of the 120-feet triple-single
bridge at Plassey end. This bridge was launched from the RCC
bridge to the far bank on the existing road. The construction
of this bridge was completed next day. Soon after the
completion, it was thrown open to traffic and in the first
twenty four hours it was used by 1452 trucks and hundreds of
pedestrians.
 The
two Bailey bridges will remain there till the State PWD is
able to repair the RCC bridge. Due to heavy traffic, the
bridges require a daily maintenance and for this a detachment
of the Regiment comprising one JCO and 10 other ranks will
continue to stay at the site till the bridge is delaunched.
input : Col
Shruti Kant
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