It’s been a chilling day. The preliminary report into the June 12 crash of Air India Flight AI‑171 —a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that plunged shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad—opens a window into a tragedy both technical and emotional. Seconds after lift-off, at around 08:08:42 UTC , the engines were screaming at 180 knots —right when both fuel-control switches flipped from RUN to CUTOFF , one after the other, barely a second apart. Instantly, both engines began losing thrust. The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot shaking, “ Why did you cut off fuel? ” — a response came, “ I didn’t. ” There was panic. The crew tried to switch fuel back to RUN, and the plane’s automatic systems tried to relight the engines. Engine 1 partially recovered , but Engine 2 could not arrest its descent despite repeated attempts. A MAYDAY call echoed over the radio around 08:09:05, and just six seconds later , data stopped. The plane crashed less than a mile from the runway, into a medical col...
If there's one thing India has proven again and again, it's that impossible-looking dreams can be made real with patience, vision, and hard work. One such dream just came true in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir — the completion of the Chenab Rail Bridge, now officially the tallest railway bridge in the world.
Built across the Chenab River at a height of 359 meters, the bridge stands taller than the Eiffel Tower. It’s not just an architectural record-breaker; it’s a strong step toward connecting some of the most isolated and difficult-to-reach regions of the country. For the first time, the Kashmir Valley will be part of India’s railway map in a meaningful way.
This bridge is part of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), a major infrastructure project started decades ago. Its goal is simple but powerful — to connect Kashmir with the rest of India, even during harsh winters or unpredictable weather.
But the journey to build this bridge wasn’t easy. It took years of planning, coordination between top engineering minds, and real courage from the people who worked on the ground. The terrain is not just mountainous but also prone to earthquakes and high winds. To overcome these challenges, engineers used some of the most advanced techniques in modern bridge construction, along with thousands of tonnes of specially treated steel. The bridge is designed to last over 100 years and even withstand blasts.
On June 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated the bridge. His symbolic journey across it marked more than just the opening of a transport link. It was a celebration of how far Indian infrastructure has come — from struggling with basic roads in hilly regions to now hosting the world’s highest railway bridge.
The impact of this bridge goes beyond engineering. It opens doors for tourism, improves trade routes, shortens travel time, and more importantly, connects people. A rail trip from Katra to Srinagar, which used to take many hours and road risk, can now happen in around three hours once services like the Vande Bharat Express begin on this route.
In a country where every new project is measured not just in kilometers but in its effect on people’s lives, the Chenab Bridge stands as more than just steel and concrete. It’s a symbol — of inclusion, unity, and the strength to overcome any barrier, natural or manmade.
As India continues to invest in long-term infrastructure, this bridge will be remembered as one of its most iconic achievements. Not just for the record it broke, but for the distance it helped the country cover — emotionally, geographically, and politically I recently read about the Chenab Bridge and it seriously amazed me. Can you believe it’s taller than the Eiffel Tower? It’s built in Jammu & Kashmir — and I think this shows how far India’s engineering has come.
When I first saw pictures of this bridge, I couldn't believe it was real. I feel proud that India is doing such amazing projects — it really inspires me as a student.
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