Sri Vijaya Puram, June 6: Heavy monsoon rains disrupted road connectivity at multiple locations across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Friday, with recurring flooding at the Lorojig Bridge in Baratang and damage to the approach road of an under-construction bridge at Kaushalyanagar leaving commuters stranded and highlighting persistent infrastructure vulnerabilities.
At Baratang, the Lorojig Bridge on National Highway-4 (NH-4), a critical transport link connecting South Andaman with North and Middle Andaman, once again went under water following heavy rainfall. The bridge reportedly overflowed after the adjoining nallah swelled, temporarily halting vehicular movement and causing long queues of vehicles on both sides.
The latest flooding has renewed concerns over a long-standing issue that residents and commuters say resurfaces every monsoon. Despite being a vital section of the only road corridor linking the northern districts with Sri Vijaya Puram, the bridge continues to face recurring inundation during periods of intense rainfall.
Local residents said the problem has persisted for years, with repeated maintenance efforts failing to provide a permanent solution. Earlier concerns had focused on the drainage and water-carrying capacity around the bridge, which many believe is inadequate to handle heavy monsoon runoff.
The disruption affected passenger vehicles, commercial transport, and the movement of essential supplies. Since NH-4 serves as the primary road connection between North and Middle Andaman and South Andaman, even temporary interruptions have widespread consequences for residents, businesses and emergency services across the region.
In a separate incident, heavy rainfall damaged the approach road of an under-construction bridge at Kaushalyanagar, disrupting traffic and leaving several travellers stranded for much of the day.
According to local reports, passengers travelling on overnight bus services were able to cross the route earlier. However, commuters who departed from Sri Vijaya Puram in the first morning convoy reached the damaged section and were unable to proceed further after the approach road was washed away.
As of around 5 pm, several passengers and vehicles remained stranded on both sides of the damaged stretch while restoration efforts continued.
Police personnel, local Panchayat representatives and the Gram Pradhan were present at the site to monitor the situation and coordinate emergency response measures. Authorities initiated temporary filling work to restore connectivity and allow vehicles to cross safely.
According to the Gram Pradhan, efforts were underway to make the damaged section temporarily motorable, with restoration expected within one to one-and-a-half hours. Officials said the immediate priority was to ensure safe passage for stranded commuters and restore movement along the route.
The twin incidents come as the southwest monsoon continues to bring heavy rainfall across parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, increasing pressure on road infrastructure and exposing vulnerable stretches prone to flooding and erosion.
While authorities worked to restore connectivity at both locations, residents noted that recurring monsoon-related disruptions underscore the need for long-term infrastructure solutions, particularly on critical transport corridors that serve as lifelines for inter-island movement.
For many commuters stranded on Friday, the incidents served as another reminder of the challenges posed by extreme weather and the importance of resilient road infrastructure in the geographically dispersed island territory.
