Kinnaur Bridge Collapse: Chilling Video Shows Truck Plunging Into River As Tailing Car Stops Short

Last Updated:June 23, 2026, 20:47 IST

The vehicle was about to reach the other side when the bridge collapsed, sending both the truck and the Bailey bridge crashing into the Sutlej River below.

A chilling CCTV video capturing the collapse of a Bailey bridge in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district has gone viral on social media, showing a truck plunging into the Sutlej River while a car following behind comes to a sudden halt just short of the structure.

The incident occurred on Monday between Reckong Peo and Tapri on National Highway-5 (Old Hindustan-Tibet Road) near Urni Dhank when an allegedly overloaded 10-tyre dumper truck carrying sand was crossing the bridge.

The dramatic footage shows the truck moving across the bridge before the structure suddenly gives way. The vehicle was about to reach the other side when the bridge collapsed, sending both the truck and the Bailey bridge crashing into the Sutlej River below. A car trailing the truck can be seen stopping near the approach road as the bridge disappears into the river.

According to officials, the truck was carrying a load that may have exceeded the bridge’s designated capacity. Executive Engineer of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Rampur Division, K L Suman said the Bailey bridge had a load capacity of 28 tonnes, while the dumper crossing it at the time of the accident might have been carrying a heavier load.

“The exact cause of the bridge collapse will become clear only after the investigation is completed," Suman said, adding that the bridge was being regularly monitored and maintained and had undergone repairs as recently as June 5.

SP Sushil Sharma said a police team led by the SHO of Tapri police station rushed to the spot after receiving information about the collapse. The truck driver was rescued and taken to a nearby hospital. He sustained minor injuries.

The bridge serves as a crucial link on the road connecting Kinnaur with Lahaul and Spiti districts. Following the collapse, vehicular traffic was disrupted, forcing authorities to divert vehicles through alternate routes.

The Kinnaur administration has directed National Highway authorities to restore connectivity at the earliest.

Officials said the Bailey bridge was constructed in 2016 as an alternative route through Urni Dhank, one of the most landslide-prone stretches in the region that is frequently blocked due to falling rocks and debris. Construction of a tunnel is currently underway to provide a permanent solution and reduce disruptions caused by natural disasters.

The video has triggered widespread reactions online, with many users expressing shock over the collapse.

“Crossing such bridges has always been an anxious experience. After seeing this, the next trip is definitely going to be a more anxious one," one user wrote.

Another user remarked, “The car driver was literally saved by seconds."

Bailey bridges are temporary, prefabricated steel structures commonly used in remote and mountainous regions to maintain connectivity where permanent infrastructure is either under construction or vulnerable to natural disasters.

About the Author

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c...Read More

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