Overloaded truck causes further damage to risky bridge

Road communication between Nilphamari and Panchagarh via Domar remained suspended for a few hours as an overloaded stone carrying truck damaged an already vulnerable bridge over the Dhepa River near Kachua Chowrongi Bazar in Nilphamari Sadar upazila yesterday morning.

Vehicular movement resumed after four hours as the Roads and Highway Department (RHD) urgently repaired the bridge on a temporary basis.

As a speeding truck from Panchagarh carrying 25-30 tonnes of stone boarded the bridge around 5:30am, a part of its concrete floor broke and fell into the river, locals said.

However, the truck managed to escape accident and hurriedly left the scene.

Visiting the site yesterday morning, it was found that the bridge was trembling in slight jerks as small vehicles were moving slowly.

There were cracks on its floor and a 5 feet X 3.5 feet portion got badly damaged, preventing heavy vehicles from moving through it.

Abinash Roy, a long route bus driver, said, "Now we are compelled to use an alternate earthen road to go to destination."

Some workers of RHD were seen engaged in repairing the bridge.

"The accident occurred as the heavily loaded truck got on the old bridge ignoring caution not to carry more that eight tonnes over it," said Zohurul Alam, assistant engineer of Nilphamari RHD.

Aminur Rahman, chairman of local Laxmichap union parishad, said, "The 81 feet X 15 feet bridge was constructed about 40 years ago and RHD declared it vulnerable three years ago. Vehicles including heavy ones have to pass through it with risk as no initiative has been taten to construct a new one."

Sources in RHD said in last two years since 2013, they repaired the bridge for minor or major faults at least five times but it was not enough.

Executive Engineer of RHD Suruj Mia said, "A project proposal was sent to the higher authorities in Dhaka for construction of a new concrete bridge in place of the old one."