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Tawi Bridge Collapse: Following intense rainfall and flash floods in late August and early September 2025, Jammu has suffered a loss of over Rs 100 crore in infrastructure damage. Among the most significant incidents was the collapse of a portion of the road near the Fourth Tawi Bridge, caused by overflowing river and relentless downpours.

Daily Life Affected, Railways In Crisis

Torrential rain over the past week has triggered flooding across the region, throwing transportation into disarray and disrupting both daily life and railway services. Many residents have endured long power outages, some lasting days and several areas have gone without fresh water for over 10 days. Suburbs are also reporting a spike in waterborne illnesses.

Overflowing rivers across the Jammu division have crippled infrastructure, particularly affecting the Jammu Railway Division. With train operations nearly halted, financial losses are mounting rapidly. Railway officials on Friday, September 5, reported that the division incurred losses exceeding Rs 25 crore over the past week due to suspended operations. Some estimates put the figure even higher over Rs 50 crore.

Meanwhile, in a major relief effort for passengers stranded due to recent floods in the Jammu region, the Jammu division of Northern Railways announced special train services between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra in Reasi district and Sangaldan in Ramban district.

The services will begin on September 8, and will operate daily for five days, until September 12.

 

The Collapse of A Lifeline: Tawi Bridge

In the heart of Jammu, the Fourth Tawi Bridge, a vital link for thousands, collapsed in the wake of the floods, raising serious concerns over the region’s aging infrastructure.

Visuals of the collapse, which took place on August 26, showed vehicles sinking in the rubble of the broken bridge, while the Tawi River surged in the background. A viral video captured the dramatic moment when a portion of the bridge gave away, trapping a moving SUV and leaving several vehicles stranded. People could be heard shouting, urging those nearby to get to safety.

The Fourth Tawi Bridge was constructed over the Tawi River and connects Jammu city with key towns such as Kathua, Udhampur and Katra. It also links areas like R S Pura, supports agricultural trade routes, and facilitates movement towards Amritsar and Srinagar.

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The Aftermath

The collapse led to the cancellation of several passenger train services as a precaution, disrupting thousands of lives and further straining the economy. But attributing this disaster merely to bad luck would be a grave oversight.

As flash floods inundated 20–30 low-lying areas in Jammu and Samba on August 26, hundreds were displaced. Authorities were forced to evacuate entire communities. The road connecting the Fourth Tawi Bridge to Bikram Chowk was also washed away. Massive rescue operations were launched by the Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF and local administration.

Inaugurated Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in 2013, and built at a cost of Rs 147 crore, the bridge was touted as an "engineering marvel". Today, its collapse is emblematic of larger systemic failures.

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Indian Army Constructs 110-Foot Bailey Bridge Within 12 Hours

In a swift and coordinated 12-hour operation, Indian Army engineers constructed a 110-foot Bailey bridge over the Tawi River, restoring vital vehicular connectivity in flood-affected Jammu city on Sept 1.

The Army once again stepped in to support the civil administration after a section of the crucial 4th Tawi Bridge collapsed due to heavy rainfall on August 26. The newly laid Bailey bridge now reconnects the damaged stretch, ensuring smooth traffic flow.

Providing details, Major General Mukesh Bhanwala, GOC, Tiger Division, said, “The recent floods severely damaged the eastern portion of Tawi Bridge No 4, a lifeline for movement in Jammu. With repair likely to take time, the engineers of Tiger Division laid a 110ft bailey bridge under challenging conditions, overcoming washed-out approaches and limited workspace.”

Local Voices: The Human Cost

“Water had completely accumulated, and the bounding (support) structures gave away. For example, in my university, which is surrounded by low-lying areas (mala), water had risen up to chest level! Many people were trapped. Thankfully, a local came and rescued everyone,” said Saiesh Pandita, PhD Scholar at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.

He added, “One major issue has been network and connectivity. Just one tower fell, and the whole bridge area lost connectivity.”

“Power cuts are common in Jammu, but this time it’s been worse. In the last few days, the electricity would go out in the morning and return around 6-7 pm. Yesterday, it went at 10 am. My father’s shop was affected, we suffered a loss of Rs 2-3 lakhs.”

Expert Opinions: What Went Wrong?

Jayakrishnan Menon, a geotechnical/structural consultant and Head of Engineering at Tdac Solutions Pvt Ltd, provided critical insight into the engineering aspects of the collapse. “The collapse was preventable... the failure resulted from a lack of sufficient information or the oversight of critical factors during the design phase. I believe that insufficient geotechnical data is a fundamental engineering cause,” he said.

On the systemic issues in India’s infrastructure development, he said, “The basic issue is engineering practices in India. Lack of design accountability, outdated standards, and insufficient design time.”

He emphasised the importance of environmental and geotechnical planning, “The bridge is located adjacent to a dam, so all essential environmental considerations should have been addressed... any gaps likely stemmed from inadequate anticipation of the site and soil conditions.”

Menon also warned against rushed projects, “Although protocols exist on paper, it's questionable whether they are consistently followed... Projects are often rushed due to political pressure, leading to compromised safety.”

Tawi Bridge Collapse: Engineer Cites Poor Execution and Oversight

Rajinder Pandita, a civil engineer and construction consultant based in Jammu, highlighted multiple structural and administrative concerns. He pointed to illegal riverbed mining as a contributing factor to the bridge's failure: “One major reason is the illegal mining in the river, which has rich mineral deposits. This illegal activity has severely compromised the foundation of the bridge. Around the load-bearing pillars, large amounts of coarse and fine aggregate have been stolen, leading to weakening of the structure. The mining mafia has significantly damaged infrastructure across the region.”

He further noted differences in project execution standards compared to past infrastructure efforts, “The earlier bridges in the region like the one built by Gammon India were constructed by reputed companies. Unfortunately, this particular bridge was awarded to a government entity, the JKP - Jammu & Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation, which is, quite frankly, a non-professional body. It was built around 2013 and cost around Rs 147 crore. The team involved lacked expertise.”

While he did not comment on the bridge’s structural design due to lack of access to official plans, he raised concerns about execution capability, “Honestly, I can’t comment much on the design specifics because I haven’t reviewed the structural plans. But I can say this: the company executing the project lacked the technical experience to build a structure of that magnitude. That alone suggests there were likely issues with material quality and quality control.”

Pandita also cited repeated structural concerns raised since the bridge’s completion, “Two or three times, at least. The department was aware from the beginning that this was not a suitable site for an artificial lake. Instead, the bridge was constructed over a nala (drainage channel), not a true river. Given the geography of the Jammu region, the water flow during floods is very strong. The raised pillars redirected water forcefully, causing damage to nearby villages. Some of those pillars are still standing today, abandoned and dangerously unstable. The issues began shortly after construction and continued in later years. The structure was faulty from the start.”

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On what improvements could have prevented the collapse, he said, “First, the project should have been awarded to an experienced company. Second, quality materials should have been used. And third, there should have been strict structural design reviews and adherence to construction codes. Technically, the executing team was not capable of handling such a critical project.”

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Pandita emphasised the need for strict design standards and experienced firms, “Future projects must consider topography, hydrology, and regional risks... Reputed firms like Gammon India or Delhi Metro should be preferred... favoritism must end.”

He concluded with a strong call to action, “The government should release a white paper detailing everything... The public deserves to know who is responsible. This is a loss not just for the state, but for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. for example, the Government Medical College at Bakshi Nagar was also constructed by the same company that built this bridge. Crores of rupees were spent, yet the sanitation system is dysfunctional, pipes are blocked, broken, and poorly leveled. The engineering was flawed."

 

The Way Forward

The Tawi Bridge collapse must not be seen in isolation, it is a wake-up call for the entire region. A few immediate steps are crucial:

-> Review high-fill road sections statewide.

-> Conduct proper geotechnical risk assessments at all vulnerable points.

-> Plan alternate engineering solutions where restoration isn’t possible.

-> Build elevated or RCC bridges where fill height exceeds 2 meters.

-> Ensure time-bound inspections, adherence to updated ISO standards, and assign work to firms with proven records.

Conclusion: The Bigger Picture

This disaster is not just about engineering failure, it’s about systemic neglect. Future projects must follow proper design, implementation, and monitoring processes. A firm should be awarded a critical infrastructure work only after proper review. Most importantly, monitoring agencies must be independent and transparent.