Sohrab Hossain, Patuakhali

Around 20,000 people of seven villages under Mithaganj and Nilganj unions in Kalapara upazila are badly suffering as around 2,000-foot area of the upazila connecting road at Tegachia Kheyaghat collapsed into the Sonatala river two weeks ago.

Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) built a six-kilometre paved road from Mithaganj to Baliatali around four years ago to ease locals’ communication with Kalapara upazila town as well as Kuakata sea beach.

A 2,000-foot part of the road was built on the flood control embankment in Tegachia Kheyaghat area and a guide wall was built a year ago to save it.

But it collapsed under the impact of huge tidal surges, much to the sufferings of the people of Golbunia, Tegachia, Azimuddin, Aramganj villages of Mithaganj and Mokimpur, Pakhimara and Sonatali villages of Nilganj union.

“Now over a hundred students have to walk on the mud to reach the Kheyaghta to attend school and often their books and dresses get dirty,” said Md Kazi Rasel, a teacher of Tegachia High School.

“Now we can’t carry our goods easily. We have to cover eight kilometres more, which adds to the transportation cost,” said Md Sahid Gazi, a trader of Tegachia Bazar.

Paddy and vegetable growers who have to go the upazila town to sell their produce face the same problem.

Kazi Hemayet Uddin Hiron, chairman of Mithaganj union parishad, said he has informed the upazila LGED authority of the matter, seeking early step.

Kalapara Upazila LGED engineer Md Abdul Mannan said their attempt to save the road at Tegachia Kheyaghat failed due to strong tidal surges from the river.

“We informed the higher authority about the matter and we are trying best to rebuild the road. We asked the locals to use an alternative road,” he said.