Bailey bridge collapses with overloaded truck in Munshiganj; road link snapped

Road communications between Tongibari and Lauhajang upazila were disrupted after a 23-year-old bailey bridge collapsed in Munshiganj early today.

Witnesses said the bridge collapsed in Gholtoli area around 12:30am when an overloaded truck was crossing the bridge.

The bailey bridge had a carrying capacity of five tonnes but the truck was carrying about 70 tonnes of cargo, reports our local correspondent quoting Executive Engineer of Munshiganj Roads Division Dewan Abul Kashem.

He said that the bailey bridge collapsed as it was carrying more weight than it could handle. A new 36-meter-long bailey bridge section will be built. It’s simple to set up a new bailey bridge. However, removing damaged parts of the bailey bridge and truck from the scene is far more difficult, he said.

An eyewitness, Md Mujibur Rahman, said the bridge collapsed when a truck loaded with tree trunks braked in the middle of it. The driver and his assistant managed to get out of the truck immediately.

Officer-in-Charge of Louhajang Police Station, Abdullah Al Tayabir said the truck driver Md Nuru Munshi and his helper received injuries and received treatment at local an upazila health complex. But they’ve been on the run since then.

Three-wheelers and light vehicles are using an adjacent lane as an alternative, said Md Shah Alam, a member of Gawdia union’s ward number 9.

The heavy vehicles are using the Sipahipara-Ichapura-Srinagar road.

thedailystar

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