Severe Teesta erosion threatens road, bridge

RANGPUR, June 22: A large portion of the bridge protection dam at the northwestern end of the second Teesta Road Bridge, built over the Teesta River at Mahipur in Rangpur's Gangachara Upazila, has been damaged owing to severe erosion.

According to sources, the water level in the Teesta River has increased during past several days due to the heavy downpour as well as onrush of water from upstream, which has caused erosion at the northwestern end of the protective embankment.

Visiting the affected area it was found that around 130-metre section of the 900 metre bridge protection embankment on the northwestern end has already collapsed, forming a deep hole there.

Locals said, concrete blocks continue to collapse into the river. Collapse of the embankment would endanger the bridge and highway, and inundate the surrounding villages, they apprehended.

It is learnt that rapid erosion near the Teesta Road Bridge has placed thousands of residents and a crucial regional road connecting Rangpur to Lalmonirhat district in immediate peril. At least 25,000-30,000 people travel over this road bridge every day.

Local residents alleged that last year, about 100 feet of the dyke disappeared in the river. At that time, LGED tried to save it by erecting bamboo pilings upstream of the embankment at a cost of Tk 1.4 million.

Afterward, due to a lack of sustainable measures, the pilings have begun to collapse owing to the strong current of the water.

Locals claim if urgent steps are not taken to protect the dam immediately, the Second Teesta Road Bridge and the Rangpur-Lalmonirhat regional road will face severe consequences.

Locals further alleged that the crisis endangers not just the bridge and the Mahipur-Kakina (Lalmonirhat) transportation link, but also over a thousand homesteads and several thousand acres of cropland across surrounding villages, as the embankment serves as the area's main protection against riverbank erosion.

Naznin Akter, a resident of Hatibandha Upazila of Lalmonirhat, said she uses the road almost every day to travel to the Rangpur city. If the bridge gets damaged, their communication will totally be disrupted, she further said.

Makbul Mia, a resident at Mahipur area near the bridge, said, "We see the dyke washing away into the river without any concrete action being taken. If the upstream runoff surges suddenly, there will simply be no escape for us."

A number of local farmers said, "If the embankment breaks entirely, not only the bridge but also the cultivated land will go into the river. However, LGED has only given assurances," they added.

Lakkhitari Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Abdullah Al Hadi blamed the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) for ignoring previous warnings. "Last year, instead of using blocks to protect the eroding bridge dam as requested, LGED spent Tk 1.4 million on ineffective bamboo pilings. With those pilings now gone and erosion worsening, the bridge is at severe risk of collapse, marking a complete waste of government funds," he also said.

Gangachara Upazila LGED Engineer Shah Md. Obaidur Rahman, however, said that last year's piling was installed following recommendations from Dhaka experts. He added that higher

authorities have been alerted about the fresh erosion and emergency measures will be initiated based on a current site inspection to protect the dyke.

Gangachara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Jesmin Akhter said she has

already visited the affected area. They have also informed the higher authorities of the matter. Necessary measures are expected to be taken soon to protect the affected dam, she added.

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