Bridge collapse brings woes to villagers

More than 5,000 people of two unions in Barguna's Taltali upazila are in great distress as the lone bridge connecting them has collapsed.

The 200-foot-long bridge on Jharakhali canal connecting Jharakhali and Baravajira villages collapsed on Sunday snapping communication.

The bridge is also the sole passage for more than two hundred students of SESDP Model Secondary School and South Jharakhali Government Primary School.

If a new bridge is not built soon, the education of the students of the two schools will be hampered, locals said.

On Sunday noon, the bridge suddenly collapsed and five to six students who had been crossing the bridge at the moment were unscathed.

The bridge was constructed by the Department of Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) in the financial year 2003-2004 to connect the two villages-- Jharakhali and Baravajira-- belonging to Baraibagi and Koraibaria unions.

Around 5,000 villagers of the two unions and the students of SESDP Model Secondary School and South Jharakhali Government Primary School used to cross the bridge daily.

Since the bridge was not repaired for a long time, the iron angles rusted in the salty water.

As the bridge is getting submerged in the tidal water, the students have stopped going to the schools.

Visiting the spot on Tuesday, it was seen that the collapsed bridge lying in the water of the canal. On both sides of the bridge, women and children were waiting for passing the bridge to go to vaccination centres. Women, children and students were risking their lives by crossing the collapsed bridge as there was no alternative way to cross the canal.

Jannati, an eighth-grader of SESDP Model Secondary School, said while she along with five to six others was crossing the bridge on their way back to school, the bridge collapsed.

"I fell into the canal but managed to swim ashore," she also said.

Nasir Uddin Mollah, former UP chairman of Koraibaria union, said the bridge was the only means of communication in the area. A new bridge needs to be built here immediately for the interest of the students.

LGED Taltali upazila Engineer Ahmed Ali said the iron angles rusted in the saltwater leading to the collapse of the bridge. A quick estimate for the construction of a new bridge here will be prepared and sent to the higher authorities for approval.