Bailey bridge collapses in Pirojpur, links to 12 roads cut off

Transport movement on 12 roads of Pirojpur and Barguna remain suspended since early today after a Bailey bridge collapsed in Bhandaria upazila of Pirojpur district.

People of Mathbaria upazila of Pirojpur and Pathargatha upazila of Barguna now cannot access roads that led to Dhaka, Barisal and Khulna following the damage to the bridge, Bangla daily Prothom Alo reports.

The Bailey bridge, which can take a load of 20 tonnes at a time, was damaged when the two trucks carrying 25 tonnes each were crossing the bridge together around 2:00am, the Bangla daily quoted Deputy Assistant Engineer of Roads and Highways Department as saying.

The drivers of the two trucks went into hiding soon after the incident, locals and police were quoted as saying according to Prothom Alo.

A boat was arranged for people to cross the river for the time being, Shahidul Islam, a sub-inspector of Bhandaria Police Station, told the daily.