Rope bridge in Kerala’s Vagamon breaks a week after inauguration, 10 tourists injured

The tourists reportedly came for a trip from St George Church at Angamaly in Ernakulam district.
Rope bridge in Kerala’s Vagamon breaks a week after inauguration, 10 tourists injured
Rope bridge in Kerala’s Vagamon breaks a week after inauguration, 10 tourists injured
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The Burma Bridge, a newly opened rope bridge near the suicide point in Vagamon in Kottayam district, broke on Saturday afternoon while people were trying to cross it, injuring about 10 tourists at the spot. The accident took place in Kolahalamedu in Vagamon, a tourist spot in the district. According to authorities, the bridge had not been opened for the public yet, however, some tourists wished to use it.

The injured have been rushed to hospital in Erattupetta in Kottayam. One person is reported to have fractured a leg during the incident. The tourists reportedly came for a trip from St George Church at Angamally in Ernakulam district.

Incidentally, the Burma Bridge was inaugurated just a week ago, on February 17, says KP Nandhakumar, Joint Director of Department of Tourism. “It was built as part of adventure tourism included in eco-tourism circuit,” he told TNM.

According to preliminary reports, there were 30 people on the bridge when it collapsed and that the bridge broke as more number of people than allowed were using it simultaneously. 

DTPC secretary Jayan P Vijayan, of Idukki district, told TNM that some adults got onto the Burma bridge even though it was closed to the public.

He told TNM that the authorities tried to stop the team from going onto the bridge but they did not listen. According to DTPC officials, the staff had even called police officials since the team did not listen to their orders. But before the police could do anything, the bridge collapsed.

"There are only about four staff there. The Burma bridge is part of another adventure tourism project which has funding from central government. It will be managed by private agencies, tender procedures for which are already completed," Jayan told TNM.

An inquiry has been launched into the incident. 

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