Risky trip on bridge

The vulnerable concrete bridge over Buri Khora river has almost become a death trap as various types of vehicles ply on it at great risk due to lack of an alternative route.

Long and deep cracks have developed on the pillars under the platform, and chunks of concrete from a number of places of the platform have fallen off. The RHD has laid steel plates in those places as a temporary measure to keep the road open.

The railings on the east side of the bridge at Kochua point of Nilphamari-Panchagarh road had fallen into the river long ago, and bamboos railings have been placed along the edges of the bridge.

Whenever any heavy bus or truck moved over the bridge, even very slowly, it jerked violently. The authorities made speed breakers on each end and hung signboards warning that movement of heavy vehicles is strictly prohibited, but heavy vehicles drive over it, though accidents are happening regularly.

Nittyo Gopal Roy of Kochua village said a night coach fell into the river only 15 days ago as the bridge was trembling violently and the driver lost control of his vehicle. Thirty passengers were injured and of them one succumbed to his injuries in Rangpur Medical Hospital.

Laxmichap Union Parishad Chairman Aminur Rahman said the bridge was constructed 50 years ago and since then no major repairing work has been done, so it has become unfit for vehicular movement.

Truck driver Momtazul Islam said he usually carried rocks from Tetulia upazila of Panchagarh to other districts over the bridge as it is the shortest route, but the condition of the bridge worries him.

Bus driver Ataur Rahman said hundreds of buses and night coaches are compelled to drive over the vulnerable bridge to and from Dhaka, Nilphamari, Panchagarh and Thakurgaon, as there is no alternate road.

Executive Engineer of RHD in Nilphamari AKM Hamidur Rahman said the bridge is irreparable and needs to be reconstructed anew, which might cost Tk 4 crore.

“Regarding this, a project proposal was sent to the higher authorities six months ago and we are waiting for the approval,” Hamidur added.