The Madras Engineering Group of the Indian Army constructed a 190-ft-long Bailey Bridge to help connect the worst-affected areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala in Wayanad district of Kerala.
The Class 24 Bailey Bridge would connect Chooralmala with Mundakkai over the Iruvanjippuzha River.
It took #Indian Army just 36 hours to build this #Bailey Bridge across a river in #Wayanad devastated by a horrific #landslide. It can withstand weight of up to 24 tonnes… Hats off to the #Army. #WayanadDisaster #WayanadLanslide #WayanadTragedy #WayanadFloods pic.twitter.com/PurYJaGqYz
— George Mathew (@GeorgeMathew500) August 1, 2024
The materials for building the bridge were flown into Kannur airport from Delhi and Bengaluru and brought to Wayanad by 17 trucks.
Major General V T Mathew, GOC-Karnataka and Kerala Sub-Area crossed the bridge in his official vehicle after the completion of the construction of the structure. The bridge has a weight-carrying capacity of 24 tonnes.
#WayanadLandslides
— Southern Command INDIAN ARMY (@IaSouthern) August 1, 2024
Inclement weather, raising water levels, debris, restricted space seems like a daunting task for rescue for many but not for #IndianArmy. #MadrasSappers displaying indomitable spirit, never say die attitude and supreme commitment in the relief operations… pic.twitter.com/l7kqLvzoOY
What is Bailey Bridge
A portable, pre-fabricated truss bridge, Bailey Bridge is designed for quick assembly and deployment during military operations and rescue operations during natural calamities. Named after its inventor, Sir Donald Coleman Bailey, the bridge was developed by the British during World War II.
Designed during a period when fast mobility and efficient logistics were crucial to military operations, this bridge is a modular system of prefabricated steel trusses that could be quickly assembled within a few hours, without any specialised tools or heavy equipment.
Bailey bridges were used extensively to help Allied forces to cross rivers and ravines, maintain supply lines, and advance their positions. Apart from its military use, it has come to be extremely useful during emergency bridge repairs and temporary crossings during natural disasters such as floods, bridge collapses, and earthquakes.
"The characteristics of the Bailey bridge were standardization and simplicity of panels, readiness of assembly in the field, capacity for additional strengthening by doubling or tripling the truss girders, and adaptability to long spans with the aid of pontoons," notes Encyclopædia Britannica.
