Lucknow: More than one lakh residents across over 15 localities were hit by disruption in connectivity after the pontoon bridge at Mehndi Ghat was pushed towards the riverbank as Gomti swelled, forcing commuters to depend on boats or take long detours to reach the city.Residents from Faizullaganj, Ghaila, Daudnagar, Imambagh, Dugaria, Allunagar, Ghazipur and nearby areas said the bridge had served as the quickest daily link to hospitals, schools and workplaces. With the pontoon bridge out of service, what used to be a 2-3 km trip for many has stretched to 6-9 km, increasing travel time and cost.Those choosing to cross by boat pay about Rs 20 per ride, but passengers often have to wait until enough people gather for the boat to depart.Locals also flagged safety concerns due to strong currents and water hyacinth in the river. “People used the bridge for hospitals, schools and daily work. Now we sometimes wait for hours for a boat,” said Wasim, a resident near Mehndi Ghat.Farmers reported additional hardship as waterlogging restricted access to fields. Naresh, a resident of the area, said his farmland in Faizullaganj can now be reached only by boat or via an 8-10 km detour. “Waterlogged fields are making it difficult for farmers to reach their crops. The bridge should be restored soon,” he said.The irrigation department said Gomti’s water level at Gau Ghat was around 351 feet on Monday compared with a normal level of 347 feet. Executive engineer Mukesh Kumar Vaishya said it later fell to about 350.8 feet and was declining rapidly.Vaishya said pontoon bridges are temporary structures that must be removed after June 15 and are prohibited on rivers until October 15 due to flood risk. He attributed the spike to delayed upstream rainfall impact, with runoff taking three to four days to reach Lucknow.Meanwhile, officials of UP State Bridge Corporation said a permanent bridge near the site is nearing completion and is expected to provide a stable link from next year.
