A bridge in Ulipur of Kurigram has been lying in an awful condition for a long time, posing serious risk of accident.
Several hundreds of pedestrians and many small vehicles cross the dilapidated bridge in KamalKhamar Dararpar intersection area under Ulipur Upazila of the district. Locals expressed their utmost dissatisfaction over the poor condition of the bridge.
Visiting the spot, it was seen that several hundreds of pedestrians and many vehicles were crossing the bridge. The people of Dararpar KamalKhamar, Islampur, Ambari and Lertal of Durgapur union and residents of Janjaygir, Majhbeel and Bakara Modhupur villages under Dharanibari union of the Upazila use the bridge regularly. Several accidents take place in the area every day.
Locals said the 12-feet wide bridge was built on Tentultala Bazar road at Islampur village around 50 years ago. The bridge is near to Bamni river. The bridge was partially broken due to a flood in the area last year. Locals somehow repaired the bridge with soil and wood. However, the authorities could not reconstruct or renovate the bridge in a year.
They alleged that the railings of the both sides of the bridge have broken. Moreover, one side of the bridge has also broken. The people of around 10 villages adjacent to the bridge use it to come and go to the Upazila town. Besides, battery-run auto rickshaw, Mishuk (engine-run three wheeler), van, bicycle and motorcycle ply the bridge. Although the bridge was damaged around a year ago, the authorities concerned could not repair the bridge.
Hossain Ali, a resident of the area, said, “The road is very important. But, the people of the area have been suffering as the bridge is in a dilapidated condition. The students of KamalKhamar Government Primary School, Janjaygir Government Primary School and KamalKhamar Fazil Degree Madrasah cross the bridge despite huge risk.
Fifth graders of KamalKhamar Tentultala Government Primary School, Muntaha and Masuma, said we face many problems while going to school due to the broken bridge. We have to wait when any vehicle crosses the bridge. They urged the authorities concerned to repair the bridge and solve their problem.
Headmaster of KamalKhamar Tentultala Government Primary School, Ruhul Amin, said, “The students have to cross the broken bridge to come to school. Many guardians often don’t send their children to the school considering the risk.”
Several pedestrians, including Hossain Ali, Jamal Uddin, Abdus Salam and Farid Mia said that more than one thousand vehicles use the road every day. Several accidents take place daily. The vehicular movement on the bridge has become a problem. The situation gets worse when it rains. Last week, a battery-run auto rickshaw carrying passengers fell into a ditch from the bridge, leaving one injured critically. The injured was taking treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital.
Local Union Parishad (UP) member Nurul Alam said, “The bridge needs to reconstruct as soon as possible. The matter with the photographs of the broken bridge was conveyed to PIO office and Upazila Engineer.”
Ulipur Upazila Engineer Pradip Kumar said, “We were informed about the bridge a few days ago. The bridge will be reconstructed as soon as possible.”
