Damaged bridge poses risk of fatal accident in Tangail

An old bridge on a local road at Hilora Adabari village under Mohera union in Tangail's Mirzapur upazila has remained in a vulnerable condition due to shifting of soil under it during the last flood.

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

Several villagers said the bridge was constructed on Korail-Hilora Adabari road about two decades ago for draining out flood water from the crop fields in the area during the monsoon.

Soil under the bridge was washed away due to passing of huge current of water during the devastating and prolonged flood last year, they said.

People and vehicles, including sand and brick-laden heavy trucks, move on the vulnerable bridge regularly, posing risk of fatal accident, they said.

However, no step is yet to be taken to stop plying of heavy vehicles on the vulnerable bridge and also at least no cautionary sideboards were hanged on there for warning people, they added.

Asked about the matter, Badsa Miah, chaiman of Mohera Union Parishad, said that condition of the bridge is SO bad that it might collapse due to pressure of the heavy vehicles any moment causing causalities.

"I have already informed the matter to the upazila engineer of Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) and also officials of the upazila administration in Mirzapur over the matter," he said.

"I have also requested the upazila parishad chairman in Mirzapur for taking necessary step in this regard but the upazila chairman told me that they have no fund to do it," he said.

"A new bridge should be constructed in place of the vulnerable bridge as soon as possible. However, as the new bridge construction is a matter of time, the authorities should hold some emergency works as soon as possible to protect the bridge and reduce the risk of accident," he added.

Contacted, Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, a sub-assistant engineer of LGED, said that a number of roads and bridges were damaged fully or partially during the last year's prolonged floods and the process of reforms and repair work of these was underway.

"We have already talked to the local public representatives about the risky bridge at Hilora Adabari area and requested them to bar movement of heavy vehicles on it. Steps will also be taken to repair the risky bridge as soon as possible," he added.