A lorry driver miraculously escaped serious injury after the bridge he was driving across collapsed into a river below.
Shocking footage shows the tipper lorry waiting as a first vehicle crossed the Bailey bridge yesterday (23 Jun) morning.
When it was the second lorry’s turn, the 190-ft-long structure suddenly folded as it neared the far side.
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The metal bridge, the lorry and its driver were sent plummeting 30 to 40ft into the rocky riverbed below.
A car waiting to cross behind was left untouched.
The horror unfolded on India’s National Highway 5, between Reckong Peo and Tapri, prompting police to rush to the scene.
Remarkably, the driver was rescued alive with only minor injuries and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The lorry was loaded with sand at the time, with officials reportedly saying it may have been overloaded.
The truss bridge over the Sutlej River was built in 2016 and had a stated load capacity of 28 tonnes, with signboards warning motorists.
Officials from the National Highways Authority of India said it was being regularly monitored and maintained, with repairs carried out as recently as 5 June.
An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the collapse.
Local authorities have ordered the bridge to be rebuilt, as reported by Need To Know.
Work on a tunnel is also underway to provide a permanent solution for the stretch of road, which is prone to landslides.
The pre-2016 route through the area has been restored to maintain traffic flow.
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