Bhubaneswar, Feb. 21 -- A major tragedy was narrowly avoided on Saturday morning when an old canal bridge near Jeypore suddenly collapsed. Fortunately, there were no pedestrians or vehicles on the bridge at the time, preventing what could have been a devastating accident with potential casualties.

The bridge, located near Badapadar on the outskirts of Jeypore, was one of the oldest canal bridges under the state's Irrigation Department. According to local residents, the structure unexpectedly gave way, sending chunks of concrete and debris into the canal below.

The incident has raised significant concerns regarding the structural safety of aging public infrastructure, highlighting the urgent need for periodic safety audits. Many local re...