Traffic movement halted due to collapse of bridge decks

Traffic movement on Lalmonirhat-Burimari highway got snapped as two steel decks of the vulnerable bridge over the River Swarnamati at Sarpukur village in Aditmari upazila collapsed yesterday. 

Although the road communication by the regional highway remained suspended several times in the last four months due to collapse of the risky bridge's deck, the bridge is yet to be repaired.

Two of six decks of the bridge on the route connecting district headquarters with the four upazila headquarters and Burimari land port collapsed, causing immense sufferings to the people after heavy loaded vehicles plied the bridge in the morning, said officials of Roads and Highway Department (RHD). 

The Swarnamati Bridge was declared risky as its longevity expired 14 years ago, said the officials.

RHD installed some steel decks on the bridge as its two girders got damaged six years ago and since then heavy loaded vehicles crossed the bridge with risk of accident, they said.

Contacted, Lalmonirhat RHD Executive Engineer Suruz Miah said, a new bridge would be constructed replacing the vulnerable bridge on the route. 

The officials of RHD are trying to repair the collapsed steel decks of the bridge as of filing of this report at 6:00pm yesterday.