The intensity of the floods in Idukki is most evident at Cheruthoni, where water released from the Cheruthoni dam joins the Periyar downstream of the Idukki reservoir.
Heaps of pebbles are found accumulated in the river close to Cheruthoni town. The Puliyanmala- Thodupuzha State Highway was badly damaged here.
A few buildings close to the river have disappeared and heaps of debris can be seen on the banks. The bus stand was washed away and only a portion of the check-dam on the Periyar remains after the flood.
However, the ‘chappathu’ (low-lying bridge) is intact. Vehicular traffic was allowed after it remained closed for over a month. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways will construct a new bridge at its place at a cost of ₹15 crore.
This bridge was inundated after water was released from the Cheruthoni reservoir and how it survived the floods, as it has only small vents for water, rocks, and debris, is part of the local debate. “A bus stand on the northern side of the bridge was washed away and earth caved in close to the structure and it survived,” says Siby, a local resident.
Though details of the bridge are not available, an official at the Dam Monitoring and Research Station said it was made by a Canadian company and part of the dam construction.
It is believed that the bridge was constructed in 1965. It was for the first time after the dam was commissioned that the bridge faced such a challenge.
The bridge small but strong survived the deluge. It is also the main link on the Kattappana-Neryamangalam road now.