Bridge collapse snaps Amtoli road link

A wooden bridge over Uttar Tiakhali canal in Amtali upazila of Barguna suddenly collapsed when schoolchildren were crossing it on Wednesday, leaving five injured. 

Communication with Amtali upazila headquarters has snapped and students of Dakkhin Amtali Adarsha Government Primary School were forced to stop attending their classes following collapse of the bridge.

The bridge was built by Amtali Sadar Union Parishad in 2015.

Locals said over 100 students from Uttar Tiakhali used it to go to the school and the villagers to Amtali upazila headquarters.

The bridge was in a very bad shape due to lack of renovation, they said, adding that a 20-foot-long section suddenly collapsed into the canal when some students were crossing the bridge. 

At least five students -- Kulsum of Class V, Hadi of Class IV, Mainuddin of Class III, Rabbi of Class II and Alfee of Class I -- fell into the canal. Teachers and locals rushed to the spot and rescued them, but their books were lost into the canal and their dresses got wet.

Shahanara Begum said communication with other villages has been snapped due to collapse of the bridge.

Acting headmaster Md Omar Faruq said students from Uttar Tiakhali could not come to school since the bridge collapsed. The bridge should be repaired as soon as possible considering interest of the students, he added.

Union Parishad Chairman Motahar Uddin Mridha said they heard about the matter and steps are being taken to repair the bridge soon.