Khairuddin Shadani
Garam Chashma, June 17, 2026: A newly-constructed bridge at Berzin village in Lotkoh Valley has been washed away by the river barely a month after its completion, triggering public concern over the quality of construction, planning and oversight of the project.
Local residents said the bridge, built at a cost of millions of rupees, failed to withstand the river’s flow and was swept away much earlier than expected. The incident has not only destroyed a key piece of infrastructure but has also shattered the hopes of local communities that relied on the bridge for connectivity and development.
Questions are now being raised about the project’s design, construction standards and monitoring mechanisms. Residents have demanded transparency regarding the approval process, implementation and quality control measures adopted during the execution of the project.
Speaking on the issue, local representatives stressed that elected officials can only make efforts within their limited capacity, while responsibility for planning, technical supervision and quality assurance rests with the relevant departments and contractors.
The incident has sparked calls for an independent inquiry to determine whether negligence, poor construction practices or inadequate planning contributed to the bridge’s collapse.
Residents are asking who approved the project, who supervised its construction, whether quality standards were followed, and who will be held accountable for the financial loss incurred from the destruction of the bridge.
Observers say the collapse of the Berzin bridge is not merely the loss of a structure but also a setback for public trust. They have urged the authorities to conduct a transparent investigation and make the findings public to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.