Floods wreak havoc on Gaibandha rails, roads
Officials estimate Tk 33cr damage to infrastructures
Flood-ravaged railway tracks on Trimohony-Balashi section near Balashi rail yard in Gaibandha. The repair work is yet to start.Photo: STAR
Floods that hit Gaibandha district twice this year caused extensive damage to road and rail communication. The Railway and the Roads and Highways Department (R&H) have primarily estimated the flood damage to infrastructures at around Tk 33.39 crore, officials said. The floods badly damaged 4,089 kilometer roads in five upazilas of Gaibandha district. The worst affected are Gaibandha-Fulchari, Gaibandha-Saghata, Gaibandha-Balashi Ghat, Gaibandha-Kamajani, Gaibandha-Sadullapur, Gaibandha-Sunderganj and Gobindagnaj-Ghoraghat roads under the R&H and LGED departments. Over 250 metres of Gaibandha-Balashi road in Falia area and 100 metres pf the Gaibandha-Kalirbazar road were washed away by surging water. Six bridges including the 80 metre bridge on Alai river at Badiakhali on Gaibandha-Bonarpara road collapsed during the flood, the officials said. According to LGED officials, the floods damaged 57.42 kilometres pucca road, 116.69 kilometres kutcha roads and 11 bridges. The department estimated the loss at Tk 9.79 crore. LGED executive engineer in Gaibandha has sent an estimate of Tk 17 crore to higher authorities for renovation of damaged roads and bridges. The department has allocated only Tk 10 lakh, officials said. The Roads and Highway Department has sought Tk 12.10 crore for reconstruction of damaged roads in different upazilas. According to Railway authorities, eight out of nine kilometer rail track between Trimohoni-Balashi Ghat were damaged by flood. Transshipment of goods in this section of railway remained suspended for three months and it will take two months more to restore rail link, high officials of railway in Lalmonirhat said when contacted. Disruption in the railway communication caused sufferings to people and losses to traders and farmers. The authorities said they are trying to renovate the damaged roads as soon as possible.
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