Bankra bridge collapsed for the second time

-Thousands of people in extreme suffering

- People are crossing at risk

- Many students go to school by swimming

- River is 180 feet wide, bridge only 60 feet length

The Kunduria Bankra bridge built over the Morichchap river in Asashuni upazila of Satkhira has collapsed for the second time. The students and pedestrians have suffered greatly as the bridge broke down and completely merged with the water. Especially the students of some schools, including the neighboring Kundaria Secondary School, have suffered greatly. During high tide in the river, the water rises about five to six feet above the collapsed bridge due to which the students often have to get wet and even swim to get to school.

On the surface, it can be seen that the bridge is completely mixed with water. Water is flowing four to five feet above the bridge. There some people are crossing the motorcycles and bicycles of people coming from both sides in exchange of money. And walking over the handrail of the bridge holding the hands of the pedestrians. The locals said that this extreme suffering has been caused due to the collapse of this bridge for the second time a few days ago. They complained that even though many people looked at the administration, no measures were taken.

Ariful Islam of Bankra village said that the length of the bridge is slightly less compared to the width of the excavated river due to the excavation of the Morichchap river, so it could be completed about a year ago. From there, people and vehicles were moving over the bridge at risk. Due to the continuous rains of the last few days, the bridge got a little weak and got submerged in the water. Currently, the tide is running over this bridge and people are crossing at risk. Monirul Islam, a local school teacher, said the bridge collapsed because of a shallow foundation. The river is 180 feet wide, how can there be a bridge of only 60 feet length. Due to which the heavy rain has broken it.

According to the office sources, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief constructed the box type bridge with a length of 60 feet and a width of 14 feet with an allocation of Tk 54 lakh 4 thousand 650 in the financial year 2016-2017. The contracting firm M/s GM Haseeb Traders of Paikgacha executed the work. After 5 years, the middle portion of the bridge collapsed. A few students including Monira, Salma, Tahid said, we expect to leave school taking risks every day. Many times while going to school we find it very difficult to go to school when we are wet. Sometimes, if the water in the river is high, one has to go to school by swimming.

Locals said that when the river gets filled with silt for a long time, all types of boating including crossing the ditches are stopped. Considering the needs of the area and in view of the demands of the local people, when the bridge was constructed on the river, the work of crossing the river was progressing well. But the Water Development Board has recently started dredging the river. During the excavation work, the bridge was gradually weakened and collapsed due to soil being cut very close to the bridge with the help of an aximeter machine which led to weaken bridge.

Asashuni Upazila Engineer Anindya Deb Sarkar said, when the bridge was built, the river was very small and later the bridge collapsed due to the excavation of the river by the Water Development Board. In this regard, we have asked the higher authorities to construct a new bridge here as soon as possible. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Krishna Roy said that people are suffering a lot due to the collapse of the bridge. We have spoken to Satkhira District Commissioner sir and other concerned people about the matter so that the suffering of people can be removed as soon as possible.

Mohammad Salauddin, Executive Engineer of Satkhira Water Development Board Division-1 said, Satkhira Water Development Board started the re-excavation of Satkhira Morichchap river in the water drainage system development project in the financial year 2020-21. Although the re-dredging program was carried out at full width as per the design along its entire length, the river remained constricted due to the presence of the bridge. The bridge collapsed under the heavy water pressure as the river flow increased due to heavy rains during the ongoing monsoon. Currently, the water flow is obstructed due to the collapsed bridge.

ZH