People suffer as approach roads of a bridge washed away by flood

GAIBANDHA, Nov 16: Over 25 villagrs under Fulchhari upazila have been facing untold suffering as approach roads of a concrete bridge at Fulchhari union of Gaibandha district have been washed away in the recent flood.
Villagers are now crossing the bridge using bamboo stairs to cross the bridge risking their lives.
It is learned that the 45-foot-long bridge was constructed by the Upazila Disaster Management Department around 13 years back at a cost of nearly Tk 4.0 million to for smooth communication with the upazila headquarters.
One Lokman Hossain said a concrete bridge was built over the canal in 2007 to alleviate the suffering of thousands people including school and college-going students. With the heavy stream of recent four times flood, approach roads have been washed away and the bridge has become almost useless.
Locals have recently built temporary bamboo-bridge on the both sides of the broken bridge to keep communication going. But several minor accidents have already been occurred while crossing the paved road.
Besides, the transportation of daily necessities including agricultural products produced by thousands of people in the char is being disrupted. Even though it has been a long time, the misery is increasing due to lack of reforms.
Upazila LGED Engineer Imtiaz Ahmed Emu said they informed the higher authority of the matter to immediately to take an initiative. For smooth communication, approach roads would be constructed on both sides of the bridge by dumping soil, he added.
Executive Engineer Md Ahsan Kabir said they have already sent the list of affected bridges, culverts and roads following recent flood to the authority concerned seeking urgent steps.

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