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UNSAFE GLASS BRIDGES IN KODAGU (COORG): SAFETY AUDIT BY A NATIONAL AGENCY IS A MUST

By P.T. Bopanna

While welcoming Kodagu deputy commissioner S.J. Somasekhar’s visit to glass bridges near Madikeri, I appeal to him to get the safety assessment done by a national certification agency prior to allowing tourists on the bridge.

In the past, my appeal for a safety audit was not taken seriously by the Kodagu district administration. Consequently, a glass bridge located near Abbey Falls, suffered structural damage two years ago following a landslide.

In light of developments, an agency, preferably a team of experts from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, or experts from a national level body, should be asked to conduct a safety audit.

Since Kodagu is a landslide-prone area, permission for allowing tourists on the bridge should be given only after an official safety audit.

I had visited the bridge located near Abbey Falls, on the day it was inaugurated (in picture). Those accompanying me felt the bridge lacked stability. A few months later, following a landslide, the pillars supporting the bridge had become unstable.

We have to learn lessons from collapse of the pedestrian suspension bridge over the Machchhu River in the city of Morbi in Gujarat a few years ago, causing the deaths of at least 135 people and injuries to more than 180 others.