How Indian Army Built 190-ft-long Bailey Bridge for Wayanad Rescue Op Within Record Time

Kochi: As rescue operations continue in Kerala's Wayanad, devastating landslides have plunged communities into chaos. The once-bustling Mundakkai junction and Chooralmala town have been transformed into ghost towns virtually overnight. In response to this calamity, the Indian Army has built a Bailey bridges—an engineering marvel first developed during World War II.

On Thursday, the Madras Engineering Group of the Indian Army completed the construction of a 190-foot-long Bailey bridge over the Iruvanjippuzha river to connect the worst-affected areas of Mundakkai and Chooralmala in Wayanad district, which were hit by devastating landslides on Tuesday. The construction of the bridge began at 9:30 pm on Wednesday and was completed by 5:30 pm on Thursday. The Class 24 Bailey Bridge constructed in Wayanad district will connect Chooralmala with Mundakkai over the Iruvanjippuzha River.

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, which has a weight-carrying capacity of 24 tonnes.

"From #Landslide to #Lifeline. When nature knocked down a bridge,#IndianArmy swiftly constructed a more resilient one. True to form, the Army Commander fearlessly led the way across the #BaileyBridge," the Defence PRO said in a post on X.

Following the vehicle of the commander, the Army medical unit and a military truck passed through the bridge, after which it was handed over to the civil administration.

The bridge connecting the two places had washed away in the devastating landslide that happened on Tuesday. The rescue workers had made temporary wooden bridges between landmasses to cross over and help those stranded there. However, in the heavy rains on Wednesday, those temporary structures too failed.

The materials for building the bridge were flown into Kannur airport from Delhi and Bengaluru and brought to Wayanad by 17 trucks.

What Is a Bailey Bridge?

Bailey bridges were first developed by the British during World War II, between 1940 and 1941. These truss bridges are designed to be assembled without specialized tools, and their components are easily transportable, making them ideal for temporary and emergency use.

Named after Donald Bailey, a British civil servant who initially faced rejection for his prototype, the Bailey bridge became essential during the war. The design was finally approved after its successful use during the Dunkirk evacuation. Bailey bridges were capable of supporting heavy loads, including tanks. British Field Marshal Viscount Bernard Montgomery famously stated, "Without the Bailey Bridge, we should not have won the war." Today, these bridges continue to be invaluable in disaster response and infrastructure projects.

Wayanad Landslide Death Toll Crosses 300

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Friday confirmed 308 deaths in the multiple landslides that hit Wayanad on July 30. The rescue and relief operations are underway in Chooralmala and Mundakkai in the Meppadi region where the landslides wreaked havoc. Minister George said that 195 bodies and 113 body parts have been recovered so far.