The 90-year-old iconic Lakshman Jhula, a suspension bridge bridge across the Ganga in Rishikesh, was closed on Friday on the recommendation of a team of experts who found that the bridge cannot sustain load.
The bridge, constructed during the British Raj, has been closed for all traffic and pedestrian movement as most of its parts are in “collapse” condition, Additional Chief Secretary Om Prakash said.
There has been unprecedented rise in traffic and pedestrian movement on the bridge in recent times and the bridge towers appear to be leaning towards one side, he said.
The decision was taken as keeping it operational could have been risky, he said.
“It is highly recommended that the bridge should be closed with immediate effect otherwise any big mishap can take place anytime,” the team of experts had said in its report.
Built in 1923 over the Ganga river, Lakshman Jhula is an iconic landmark in this city of Uttarakhand that is renowned as a center for studying yoga and meditation.
It connects Tapovan village in Tehri district on the western bank of the river with Jonk in Pauri district.
One of the main attractions for tourists and devotees coming to Rishikesh, the pedestrian bridge also used by two wheelers was named after Hindu mythological character Lakshman as it stands where he is said to have crossed the river with the help of jute ropes.
Many successful Hindi movies and serials like “Ganga Ki Saugandh”, “Sanyasi” and popular detective serial “CID” have been shot at the Lakshman Jhula.
