Heavy rainfall has caused widespread flooding in Jibannagar upazila, leading to the collapse of two key bridges due to heavy current of the Bhairab River.
The latest incident occurred on Tuesday night, when the only bridge providing access to Santospur village collapsed near the village bus stand. Earlier, on Monday, another bridge over the Bhairab River in Manoharpur village was swept away.
As a result, thousands of residents in Santospur, Manikpur, Rajapur, Ratirampur, Singnagar, Dhopakhali, and Madhobkhali villages are now effectively cut off, confined to their homes. School children are unable to attend classes, and the transportation of agricultural goods and commercial products has come to a complete halt. Some desperate residents are attempting to cross the broken structures on foot, risking their lives.
A visit to the site revealed part of the Santospur bridge has collapsed, with visible cracks around the structure indicating a risk of total failure at any moment.
Jibannagar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Al-Amin Hossain visited the location and confirmed the seriousness of the situation. He stated, “The bridge in Manoharpur collapsed two days ago due to strong currents, and now Santospur’s bridge has also collapsed. This bridge is vital for local residents. We’ve contacted the relevant authorities for reconstruction and are exploring temporary solutions for movement in the meantime.”
Upazila Engineer Ashraful Islam added, “This bridge was built shortly after the Liberation War by the Water Development Board, not under LGED. Given its condition, it cannot be repaired—it must be rebuilt. We will submit a proposal for a new bridge, but it will take time.”
Local leaders, including former UP Chairman Abul Kalam Azad and Ward Member Abdus Sattar, urged immediate action to provide alternative crossings for the affected villages.
Caption:
Bridge collapses near Santospur bus stand due to strong current in Bhairab River in Jibannagar
