Erosion along Kushiyara River puts Jagannathpur road at risk

SUNAMGANJ, Feb 12 (UNB): Along the restless banks of the Kushiyara River in Sunamganj's Jagannathpur upazila, a vital road is fighting a losing battle against erosion, leaving thousands of residents anxious as commuters risking their lives every day.
The Jagannathpur-Barafechi road, once wide enough to accommodate steady traffic, has been reduced to a narrow strip hanging precariously over the riverbank.
With sections of the earth beneath it already eaten away, the road now teeters on the edge of collapse, creating constant tension among people living in nearby villages.
During a recent visit to the area, riverbank protection work was seen underway near Barafechi Bazar, where concrete blocks are being placed in an effort to halt erosion.
But the situation remains grim just west of the project area, where the river has already bitten deeply into the land, leaving the roadway dangerously narrow.
The affected stretch serves as the only communication link between several localities and the Jagannathpur upazila headquarters.
Any disruption, residents fear, would completely sever transport and isolate communities from essential services, locals said.
They said the threat feels immediate and unavoidable.
Rahmat Ali, a resident of the upazila, warned that if the hanging portion of the road collapses into the river, people in the area will face severe hardship.
They urged the authorities to take urgent measures to protect the road before it is washed away entirely.