THATTA: A fact-finding committee comprising the irrigation director-general (monitoring) and two consultants has been formed to inspect the Doolha Darya Khan bridge — the recently repaired bridge that has sustained heavy damage again and is feared to collapse — and submit its report within three days.

Sources privy to a meeting presided over by Irrigation Secretary Syed Zaheer Hyder Shah in Karachi told Dawn on Monday that the committee would assess the damage caused to the bridge, look into the causes and ascertain how much load it could sustain if reopened to vehicular traffic.

The meeting was attended by Kotri barrage chief engineer Junaid Memon, Sindh Coal Authority (SCA) chief engineer Hassan Ally Memon, irrigation director-general (monitoring) Rafique Deedar, the SCA and Kotri barrage superintendent engineers and others, according to the sources.

Commenting on the condition of the bridge, Junaid Memon told Dawn when contacted by phone that it would be premature to say anything about the damage to the 45-year-old bridge at this stage. However, he added, the experts committee would inspect and establish how much load it could now sustain.

He said a decision to allow transportation [through the bridge] of heavy material for the ongoing construction work at the Monarki bund would be taken in the light of the committee’s report.

A few days back, the SCA had closed the bridge to heavy traffic after its road developed cracks despite the repair work carried out recently to strengthen it.

The closure has badly affected the routine flow of traffic between Thatta and Badin districts via Sujawal.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2016