Flood Losses
Tk 110cr roads, culverts ruined in Sirajganj
A flood damaged road in Sirajganj. The picture was taken yesterday from Soyadhangara area in the district town.Photo: STAR
Flood has damaged 4,000 kilometre (KM) roads and 450 bridges and culverts completely or partially in all nine upazilas here. Officially the loss has been estimated at about Tk 110 crore, according to Roads and Highways Department (RHD). Road communication is yet to be restored in the upazilas as 90 percent of roads, bridge and culvert have become unfit for use and vehicular movement. These roads have become death traps for pedestrians and passengers of vehicles. Hundreds of vehicles including buses and trucks ply along the highway and various roads connecting the districts of north Bengal with the capital city via Sirajganj everyday. Vehicles carrying bricks, cement, coal, sand and other goods also ply through the roads. The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) sources said, scores of potholes, cracks and breaches have developed at many points on the roads following flood. After a slight rainfall the roads become muddy and slippery. Besides, 17 roads have been damaged completely and those have become unfit for movement. As a result, communication through the roads remained stopped although floodwaters receded completely. About 50 KM road from Sirajganj to Kazipur has been damaged completely. Many bridges have collapsed by the current of floodwaters. Vehicles like bus and truck do not ply on the road, as the repairing work is yet to be started. Pourasava Road running behind the pourasava office have been washed by floodwaters. About 25 KM road from Sirajganj town to Hatikumrul have been damaged completely. Heavy vehicles like goods laden trucks are now plying through a diversion road through Koddarmorh making the journey longer by about 22 KM more. Besides, roads running from Sirajgang to Bahirgola, Sirajganj to Pangashi-Raiganj, Sirajganj to Nalka and Sirajganj to Jiarmorh are now totally unfit for vehicular movement. Many roads in Sirajganj municipality area are now closed following development of innumerable potholes and cracks as those remained under water for two weeks during flooding. Conscious citizens have urged the relevant authorities to reconstruct the damaged roads, bridges and culverts without further delay for national interest.
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