The years old bridge of Shuklaganj Ganga Ghat connecting Unnao and Kanpur got washed away in the Ganga. The administration had closed the old Ganga bridge after the bridge’s abutment was damaged during the lockdown. This saved the accident from happening. A dilapidated part of the bridge at the Kanpur end fell into the river. The middle part of the damaged pillar broke and fell. This is a bridge of the British era, which is 175 years old.
There was a stir when the Ganga bridge broke on Tuesday. This bridge has always been much talked about. However, this bridge was closed for the last few years. This bridge was closed in the year 2021. Earlier, this bridge had been a means of transportation for lakhs of people, but after the ban on the bridge, both the district administrations had built walls from their respective sides to close this bridge.
Engineers were called from Delhi
On Tuesday, 26 November, some part of Kothi numbers 9 and 10 collapsed and fell straight into the Ganga. Till a few days ago, consideration was being given to making this bridge a picnic spot. However, this did not happen, otherwise a major accident could have happened. Engineers were also called from Delhi to get the Ganga bridge running again. Its repair was to cost around Rs 30 crore, but not much attention was paid to it.
Shooting of many films on the bridge
A report regarding this bridge was submitted to Kanpur DM Alok Tiwari by the then Executive Engineer Mukesh Chandra Sharma of Public Works Department, Kanpur in the year 2021. It was said in the report that Ganga bridge is no longer in a condition for vehicles to run on it. The DM took cognizance of the report and closed this bridge. Many films have also been shot on this bridge.