Description

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Context

An avalanche damaged the Bailey bridge across the Gaokha River, causing serious accessibility concerns for Milam village residents.

The Bailey Bridge, located around 8 kilometers from Milam village, connects the village to many security stations along the China border.
Milam hamlet, with a population of approximately 400 people, is the last inhabited settlement in the Johar Valley, near the India-China border.
During these seasonal movements, communities have only one access corridor: the 65-kilometer-long Munsyari-Milam road.
About the Bailey Bridge:
A Bailey bridge is a sort of modular bridge with pre-built parts that may be assembled rapidly when needed.
Donald Coleman Bailey, an English construction engineer, is credited with creating it during WWII.
Their main characteristics include modular design, ease of transport, great load-bearing capability, and flexibility to different terrains.

Source: TOI

Practice Question:

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Bailey Bridge:

It is a type of modular bridge with pre-built parts that can be assembled quickly with minimal construction work.
It was invented by an American civil engineer during World War I.
It is primarily designed for permanent use in urban areas due to its high load-bearing capacity.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Bailey bridges are indeed modular, prefabricated bridges designed for rapid assembly without the need for heavy equipment or extensive construction. This makes them ideal for emergency situations and difficult terrains.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Bailey bridge was invented by Donald Coleman Bailey, an English civil engineer, during World War II (around 1941), not World War I, and he was British, not American.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While Bailey bridges have high load-bearing capacity (even for tanks), they are primarily designed for temporary and rapid deployment, often in military or disaster relief scenarios, rather than permanent urban infrastructure.