Broken bridge woe for villagers

People in Alisarkul area of Srimangal upazila in the district are suffering a lot as a bridge on a canal on the local road has been lying broken for the over eight years.

The bridge is located on a road leading to Alisarkul on the side of Srimangal to Mirzapur road in Bhunobhir union of the upazila.

Local people said the 20-foot-long concrete bridge became vulnerable due to lack of renovation for long, making it difficult for vehicles and pedestrians to pass.

Especially elderly people and critical patients are the worst sufferers due to the communication problem during monsoon, they said.

Accident may take place anytime if a new bridge is not constructed immediately, said the villagers.

Although fatal accident can happen any moment and local people have already informed the matter to the authorities concerned, any step is yet to be taken in this regard so far, they added.

During a recent visit to Alisarkul area, this correspondent found that the bridge remained in a vulnerable condition.

The pillars on both sides of the bridge were found broken and hanging. The walls above the lightning got damaged and the inner rods came out. In this situation, people were seen crossing the bridge amid risk of accident.

Private cars, CNG driven auto rickshaws and rickshaw vans are also plying the bridge amid risk. In addition to the locals, people from other areas travel to Hail Haor over this bridge.

Kawser Ahmed, a local resident, said thousands of people pass through the Srimangal to Mirzapur road every day. There are many fish farms in the area. People use this bridge on the local road for agricultural work.

He further added that the bridge remains in an awful condition for over eight years. When it rains, the bridge on the canal remains under water.

More than 4,000 people who live in Badalisa village next to this bridge face immense suffer due to the communication problem, said Kawser, adding that due to the inability of heavy vehicles to move, it is very difficult to carry the agricultural products.   

If the bridge lies in such bad state, it may collapse at any moment, said local commuters.

Sumon Mia, driver of a CNG-run auto-rickshaw, said they are crossing the broken bridge amid risk of accident as it may collapse at any moment.

Abdur Rashid, chairman of Bhunobhir Union Parishad, said hundreds of residents in the area are using the ramshackle bridge amid risk.

He has already urged the upazila parishad and the local administration to build a sustainable concreate bridge on the canal considering the sufferings of the local commuters here.

Srimangal Upazila Parishad Chairman (Acting) Premsagar Hazra said the government is doing a lot of development works in remote areas of the villages.

"I will discuss the matter in the monthly meeting of the upazila parishad this month. A new bridge will be built here. We are taking all the necessary steps to build a new bridge on the local road," said the UZ chairman.