Bridge Collapse in Comilla Disrupts Connectivity Across Six Sub-districts
Photo Collected
A bridge collapse in the Daudkandi upazila of Cumilla has severed critical transport links, leaving thousands of residents stranded and regional commerce paralyzed. The incident occurred Saturday evening when a deteriorating Bailey bridge spanning the Khirai River collapsed directly onto a cargo vessel laden with 40,000 bricks.
The vessel, owned by Jewel Patwari, was navigating toward its destination when the bridge gave way with a deafening sound. While all 17 workers, the pilot, and the assistant managed to escape by swimming to shore, they were unable to recover any personal belongings, including mobile phones, cash, and clothing. Patwari estimated the total damage to be extensive, noting that the vessel itself was valued at 2.5 million taka.
Local residents and business owners blame the collapse on prolonged neglect and poor maintenance. According to merchant Majnu Mia, the bridge had suffered significant corrosion from years of heavy rainfall, leading to frequent structural failures. While the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) had initiated repairs, the situation turned catastrophic when workers reportedly dismantled critical structural bolts without professional supervision. Eyewitnesses claim the repair crew fled the scene immediately after the bridge plunged into the river.
The collapse has halted traffic on a vital transit route, causing severe hardship for communities across Daudkandi and several upazilas in Chandpur, including Matlab Dakshin, Kachua, Hajiganj, Faridganj, and Chandpur Sadar. As thousands grapple with the loss of connectivity, accountability remains elusive. Mohammad Zahidul Islam, the LGED engineer responsible for the Daudkandi office, was not present at his workstation, and repeated attempts to reach him for comment via telephone went unanswered.
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