Culvert collapse cuts off key road in Jashore’s Abhaynagar

A decades-old culvert on the Amtala-Narail road in Jashore's Abhaynagar upazila has collapsed, disrupting the daily commute of thousands and cutting off a major travel and transport route.

The concrete box culvert, built 35 years ago in the middle of a low-lying area between Shibnagar and Baghutia villages under Baghutia Union, had been declared risky for the past four years. Despite red flags placed to warn commuters, vehicles continued to use the route until May 16, when a truck attempted to cross and the structure gave way.

Since then, even three-wheeled vehicles have been unable to pass, locals said. The collapse has forced residents to take lengthy detours through Khulna or Jashore to reach Dhaka, causing serious inconvenience.

"If the culvert is not repaired immediately, this will become our only option," said a local, urging the authorities to take prompt action.

Locals also fear fatal accidents, as there is no barrier at the site. "People coming from outside may fall into the ditch unless the area is cordoned off," said Asadul Islam, a resident of Noapara.

The route served as a vital corridor for passenger and goods transport between Noapara, Narail, Dhaka, and other districts including Gopalganj, Faridpur, and Madaripur.

"It used to take only three hours to reach Dhaka via this road," said Lokman Hossain Molla, a resident. "Now, everything has come to a standstill."

Bus driver Zobayer Hossain, who operates on the Narail-Dhaka route, said, "Even two-wheelers can barely manage. Auto-rickshaws or vans can't move at all, let alone large vehicles."

Baghutia Union Parishad Chairman Sheikh Taiyobur Rahman said he has informed the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) after inspecting the collapsed culvert.

Upazila Engineer Nazmul Huda said they had prepared an estimate for reconstruction about a month ago and submitted it to the LGED head office.

"Once approved, we'll begin work through a tender process. In the meantime, we've started building an alternative road to keep some connectivity intact," he added.